Diwali, also known as Deepavali and the “festival of lights”, is an ancient Hindu festival celebrated in autumn every year signifying the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil, and hope over despair.
Besides decorating their homes in lights, some people open new account books and settle their debts on Diwali to start a new year fresh. Not only do people want a clean slate with their money, but also people forgive others past harms and clear their mind of evil doings, scrub their homes inside and out, buy new clothes and new pots and pans. Doorsteps are sometimes decorated with multi-coloured designs called rangoli.
Regardless of the specific legend associated with a family’s Diwali celebration, the universal theme is happiness and hope, celebrated for five days with family gatherings, glittering clay lamps, festive fireworks, strings of electric lights, flowers, sharing of beautiful sweets and worship.
October 24th, the staff and students of Chestermere Lake Middle School held their own celebration of Diwali where they explored the aspects of the celebration and the culture. The day kicked off with an assembly where students created a huge circle in the gymnasium, leaving an open circle in the centre for performers. The students were treated to two dance performances by dancers from the Nrityangan Dance Center. Dressed in gorgeous costumes, the dancers got the students ready to celebrate and learn things of this historical festival.
Following the kick off assembly, students were split into groups where they spent the rest of their day taking part in a variety of activities. Stations included a stop to learn how to do Rangoli Art – a folk art from India in which patterns are created on the floor in living rooms or courtyards using materials such as colored rice, dry flour, coloured sand or flower petals. The art work that the students made at the celebration, will be merged into one large mural and displayed at the school. Other stations included Bollywood dance lessons, a friendly game of Kabaddi, a food station of yummy samosa and sweets, a photo booth and Henna – an artistic dye tattoo done on the hand.
The exciting celebrations came to an end with an assembly back in the dark gym where only the lights of glow sticks filled the room. The sitar performance, with glow sticks waving in the air, was a moving finale to this celebration that was as full of fun as it was culture.
