By Anthony Stanford –
Aurora Public Library (APL) will be host to the 2018 Diwali celebration from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, at the Eola Road Branch. Diwali, or Hindu Festival of Lights, is India’s largest annual celebration and one of the most celebrated and well-attended festivals in Aurora.
The popularity of the Diwali celebration and observance continues to grow and to demonstrate the rich history of tradition and faith. Every Autumn, this festival, which marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year, is celebrated by millions of individuals around the world.
This year, the Eola Road Branch Diwali celebration will feature craft projects and a variety of other activities. One popular activity is having a henna design drawn on a hand or arm. New and exciting this year is a bilingual Hindi-English storytime for families. Once again, merchant Anil Sharma of Masalas N More will provide traditional Indian treats and henna.
The Diwali celebration is sponsored in part by a grant from the Indian American Community Outreach Advisory Board of Aurora. Appropriate for all ages, everyone is invited to learn more about Diwali and to celebrate the Indian culture. So, be sure to save the date.
According to Eola Road Branch Reference Librarian, Yiota K. Piraino, “The Diwali celebration provides a great opportunity for the community to experience another culture and their traditions while honoring those who celebrate it.”
The students of Bharatam Academy of Dance Arts, led by artistic director Vanitha Veeravalli, will treat attendees to a Bharatnatyam dance performance. The group CHI-MELJAZPER (Chicago-Melody Jazz Percussion group) will perform instrumental fusion music led by Metea Valley High School junior Akhil Avasarala.
Festival organizer Ratna Avasarala reports, “Diwali symbolizes the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. The Diwali celebrations at the Eola Road Branch were started in 2007 by [former Library deputy director] Elizabeth Bumgarner.”
The Diwali events will start at 1 p.m. with Diwali displays, crafts, coloring pages, and treats. From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. the henna art designs will be available. At 2 p.m. will be the bilingual Hindi and English storytime; 2:30 p.m. will see a Diwali trivia contest, and the celebration will wrap up from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. with traditional Indian music and a dance performance.
For additional information about the Diwali celebration, contact the Eola Road Branch at 630 264-3410.
Anthony Stanford is an author and Aurora Public Library Media consultant.