On October 22, Newton North High School celebrated Diwali, the Indian festival of light that symbolizes the triumph of good over evil. No longer just a festival celebrated by Indian Hindus, it has become a truly global event.
Newton is known for its multi-ethnic and multicultural fabric, and Newton North High School is a microcosm of a truly diverse community. As a part of its dedicated effort to promote and support different cultural heritage and celebrations, the Newton North South Asian Students Association (SASA), under the leadership of club officer Avnish Kumar and faculty adviser Ms. Sangeet Srikanth, celebrated the Diwali festival with a lot of enthusiasm – the second time after Covid since the first celebration two years ago.
The event took place on Newton North’s “Main Street” (central lobby) and was attended by many students and faculty members. Organizers included Avnish Kumar, Samanvi Karanam, Sofia Makadia, Kaushiki Banerjee, Durva Desai, Ria Unniraman, Vensi Patel, Rhia Sharma, Rhea Khanna, Adithi Anekal, Leela Choudhury, Aneesha Aryan, Anusha Chakavarthy, Mira Phansalkar, Neve Agrawal, Shobha Phansalkar, Surabhi Agrawal, and Avideep. All organizers dressed up in fine Indian attire.
The main attraction of the celebration was food and music, including hit Bollywood songs and sumptuous Indian food sponsored by local Indian Restaurants Dilli Delights, Keshar, House of Tandoor, Mitii Chulha, Little India, Chennai Eats, Rasaa, and Peppinos Dosa. Snacks were discounted by Patel Brothers. The food donated by the restaurants was shared widely within Newton North, spreading the culture with everyone to enjoy delicacies like paneer pakora, samosa, and bhujia.
Lines were long, and over 1000 students and 60-70 faculty gathered to enjoy the food and take pictures at the Diwali photobooth.The aroma spread throughout the school’s Main Street.
Another attraction of the event was Mehendi, or henna – a form of temporary body art that is part of many festivals in South Asian cultures, in which intricate designs are created on hands and feet using a paste made from the dried leaves of the henna plant. The practice is associated with good fortune. Students were able to get their hands painted with different designs, including floral ones, drawn by Vensi Patel, Kaushiki Banerjee, and Vivian Herrick.
The event was a great success and a reminder that festivals are not bounced and are a tremendous uniting force worldwide.
Ms. Srikanth said that this celebration is her way of uniting the South Asian students together in the school, and she prides herself in being able to carry her identity in this multi-cultural school that supports her in her diverse endeavors.
Avnish Kumar and Kaushiki Banerjee contributed reporting for this article.
