Dancers from Newton North and South High Schools and beyond entertained a crowd gathered at City Hall on November 13 to celebrate Diwali, a national holiday in India known as the Festival of Lights.
The five-day celebration, which this year began on November 12, “symbolizes new beginnings and the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness,” according to the Associated Press.
Rakashi Chand, who helped organize the Newton event, said Diwali is “full of illumination, colors, friends and family meeting each other, lots of yummy sweets, gifts exchanged and fireworks.”
Ahead of the celebration, the usually austere War Memorial Auditorium at City Hall was decorated with tealights, flowers, and colorful wall hangings.
Dancer Sushmita Biswas performed during the Diwali celebration on November 13, at City Hall. The national holiday in India, known as the Festival of Lights, is a five-day celebration that marks the victory of light over darkness. (photo: Julie M. Cohen) 
Students from Newton North danced to Bollywood music during the Diwali celebration on November 13, at City Hall. The national holiday in India, known as the Festival of Lights, is a five-day celebration that marks the victory of light over darkness. (photo: Julie M. Cohen) 
Rakashi Chand, one of the organizers of the city’s Diwali celebration, spoke to the crowd gathered at City Hall on November 13, for the event. The national holiday in India, known as the Festival of Lights, is a five-day celebration that marks the victory of light over darkness. (photo: Julie M. Cohen) 
Sarina Chand, a junior at Newton South, performed during the Diwali celebration on November 13, at City Hall. The national holiday in India, known as the Festival of Lights, is a five-day celebration that marks the victory of light over darkness. (photo: Julie M. Cohen) 
Students taught by director Anandani Chandra Sekhar of the Vidyanjali Dance School of New England performed during the Diwali celebration on November 13, at City Hall. The national holiday in India, known as the Festival of Lights, is a five-day celebration that marks the victory of light over darkness. (photo: Julie M. Cohen)
Sushmita Biswas, the program’s only adult dancer, led the evening’s entertainment with expressive choreography as she moved across the small stage and stairs.
In between dances, speakers including Mayor Ruthanne Fuller, Newton South Principal Tamara Stras, School Committee member Rajeev Parlikar, and others wished attendees a happy Diwali and a prosperous year.
“At a time when there is so much uncertainty, strife and chaos in the world, Diwali is a happy reminder that good will prevail,” said Chand. “We celebrate by bringing light into the lives of everyone around us.”
While most speakers wished the crowd a prosperous year, two Newton teens who talked about what Diwali meant to them also pushed to have it as an official day off from school. Currently, for Newton Public Schools it is a “recognized observance,” but school is still held.
Some of the highlights included the teen and younger students – all girls – showing off their intricate dance moves in both traditional and modern routines.
In addition to Chand, the following people and groups helped make the Diwali celebration a reality: Janhavi Wadhwani, the United India Association of New England, Indian Family Network, the Indian community of Newton, Vidyanjali Dance School of New England, dancer Sushmita Biswas, the South Asian Student Association of Newton North and Newton South High Schools, the City Council, School Committee members, Newton South Principal Tamara Stras and Mayor Ruthanne Fuller.
