Aurora’s Indian American Community Outreach Advisory Board will celebrate its annual Diwali Festival from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3 at Waubonsie Valley High School, 2590 Ogden Avenue, Aurora.
Diwali is India’s largest annual festival and is celebrated throughout India, Nepal, and other South Asian countries and marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year.
Attended by more than 5,000 individuals annually, Aurora’s Diwali festival will feature the diversity of India’s music, dance, clothing, and cuisine, while highlighting the contributions of Indian Americans in the Aurora area and nationally. Visitors can purchase food, clothing, and jewelry, while Bollywood-style dance groups entertain the crowd throughout the evening.
Five high school graduates will receive the 2018 Swami Vivekananda Scholarship for their academic accomplishments and service to the community: Imtiaz Ahsan, Oswego East; Debanjan Das, Oswego East; Aayan Haq, Metea Valley; Shaelyn Iyer, Waubonsie Valley; and Sara Lagvankar, Metea Valley.
The festival will conclude with an outdoor fireworks display at 8:45 p.m..
The celebration is free and open to the public.
—Aurora city government