On Nov. 15, the third Sage Center Day kicked off with a presentation from the South Asian Affinity Group to celebrate the upcoming holiday, Diwali. Diwali is a Hindu holiday, sometimes referred to as the Festival of Lights, and is the largest holiday celebrated in India. Dressed in traditional Indian clothing such as saris for women and kurta for men, members of the South Asian Affinity Group shared their traditions and customs for Diwali during the assembly.
Although the traditions came from various regions in India and had different names, there were overlaps between the customs. The most common form of celebrating was lighting lamps known as diyas, which symbolize the triumph of good over evil and light over dark. Additionally, many students noted that they created rangolis, an art form that uses colorful powders to create intricate designs and is typically made on the floor.
Sophomore Shaurya Mittal said that he and his family celebrate by “hosting Diwali parties with other people who celebrate, where we do a lot of dancing and spend quality time with each other.” He also noted that he “loved sharing an important part of my identity with my school community, as well as the historical and cultural significance of it.”
The showcase ended with a traditional Indian dance performance from professional dancers, who had notably been featured in the popular Netflix show “Never Have I Ever.”
“Although we met a couple of times during lunch to plan out the schedule and script, the parents were the ones who coordinated the desserts and dance performance,” sophomore Ananya Devkirti said.“It was great being able to share our culture since we haven’t had any Diwali celebrations before, especially since a lot of people at our school celebrate Diwali.”
