The Eola Road Branch in Aurora will be illuminated from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15! The Aurora Public Library District (APLD) invites you to our annual Festival of Lights celebration to honor the traditional Indian holiday, Diwali. There will be activities for the whole family, a special dance performance, treats, and colorful displays. Attendees will be a part of the celebration and better understand Diwali.
It is said that more than a billion people worldwide celebrate Diwali! Diwali represents the triumph of good over evil. It means to eradicate darkness and bring in light, which is why it is commonly referred to as the Festival of Lights. When possible, Diwali is celebrated with elaborate fireworks displays lighting up the sky. There will not be any fireworks at the library on Saturday, Oct. 15, but there certainly will be colors and lights! Community members are welcome to set up their own colorful Diwali displays for customers to view. Displays traditionally include flowers, gold figurines, arches, candles, garlands, and patterns of colored sand known as rangoli. Staff member Latha Rajendran describes the display in her own home and how the set-up will work for the event.
She said, “It is usually some figurines and paper decor items to make it look festive. Sometimes I add glitter and lights. For customers, each participant will get a table against the wall. They can add anything to the table and decorate it like how you decorate around a Christmas tree. It can be a thematic display.” Attendees of the celebration will vote for their favorite display and prizes will be awarded to the winners. If you are interested in putting together a display, contact the Library soon to reserve your spot!
At the Library, the Diwali festivities have grown significantly over the years thanks to the creativity of our amazing staff members. “The staff here that celebrate Diwali are so passionate about sharing their culture and traditions with others, you can tell how important it is to them,” said Circulation Department manager Yiota Piraino, who helps organize the event.
“They spend months thinking about the next craft and performance, and how to make it better each year. Even though they celebrate with their families, they bring their own displays from home so that others can enjoy it, as well.”
Before you check out the displays you may want to get in line at the Small Meeting Room. Back by popular demand, we will have henna artists applying beautiful designs from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Henna is a dye used to create intricate designs, usually on the hands, and lasts for days. This event is one of the most anticipated offerings of the day and an event that many customers look forward to. Another highlight is the tasty Indian treats available to nibble on! Refreshments will be served while supplies last in the front lobby.
If you’re looking to get crafty, stop at the Large Meeting Room where there will be a craft available for all ages until 2 p.m.. Afterwards, join us for a bilingual English and Hindi storytime in the Children’s Department. To end our celebration, students from the Tarana Dance Academy will perform at 3 p.m. in Room 104 of the Fox Valley Park District Building. Established in 1994, the Tarana Dance Academy is the largest Indian dance school in the Chicagoland area with three locations, including one here in Aurora. Their goal is to instill confidence and discipline in their students along with Kathak dance skills. Tarana Dance Academy takes great pride in promoting Indian classical dance for new generations.
We want to thank our generous donors and contributors who make this event possible. In recent years the Library has been lucky to receive a grant from the Indian American Community Outreach Advisory Board of the City of Aurora government which has helped the Library grow this event into such a joyous occasion. We hope many in attendance can come together to learn, grow, and celebrate light over darkness.
For more information about reserving a display space or the day’s events, please check our Events page at www.aurorapubliclibrary.org/events or contact the library at 630-264-4117.
Andrea Tiberi is the communications coordinator for the Aurora Public Library District.