Honoring Diwali, the Festival of Lights
A message from: Lorenley Báez, Associate Provost for Equity & Belonging
Office of Equity and Belonging
Dear Students,
Today, Thursday, October 31st, The New School celebrates and honors Diwali, the Festival of Lights. Diwali is a Hindu festival that symbolizes the “spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.” This holiday occurs during the Hindu lunisolar months of Ashvin (per the Amanta tradition) and Kartika, typically lasting five to six days.
Diwali is a major cultural event for the Hindu, Sikh, and Jain diaspora. The main day of the festival of Diwali (the day of Lakshmi Puja) is an official holiday in Fiji, Guyana, India, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. Key rituals on the third day of the festival include lighting Diyas and candles around the house, worshiping Lakshmi and Ganesha to summon health and wealth, and bursting crackers. Families and friends exchange gifts and celebrate with a grand feast featuring delicious food and a variety of sweets.
As we honor this beautiful holiday, I invite you to Diwali Dhamaka hosted by Tadka Student Association.
The event will be held on Saturday, November 9th, from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. in Arnhold Hall, Theresa Lang Student Center, Room 202.
I encourage you to be in community with the Tadka Student Association and to learn more about the holiday and the terrific events they are hosting this year. I look forward to celebrating and honoring this cultural event with you!