Bob Parida of Aurora loves celebrating his Indian heritage and found plenty of like-minded folks on Sunday as the Indian American Community Outreach Advisory Board of Aurora offered its 11th Diwali Festival at Metea Valley High School in the city.
“This brings the community and the people around us together,” Parida said. “It’s a festive time because it goes back to thousands of years of tradition.”
Diwali is the festival of lights symbolizing the victory of light over darkness. Sunday’s celebration in Aurora included music, cultural activities, art, dance, food and more.
Nitin Fuldeore, who serves as the chairman of the Indian American Community Outreach Advisory Board, spoke before the event and said the focus “is for people to come together, have sweets, share the joy with the community.”
Given the current state of the world, Fuldeore said the celebration “might be needed more than ever.”
“Absolutely, because the Indian community – when they are here away from their motherland – it’s basically we are trying to bring people together and it becomes a wider family for people so that they can see how things are happening back in their motherland,” he said. “This also is for new generations to know how their culture is being celebrated throughout the world.”
Fuldeore said Sunday’s celebration included a rangoli competition where colored powders, rice and other elements are used to create an artistic design.
Meghkanta Mohapatra of Aurora was watching as friends and family made a rangoli on the floor in the hallway of the school and said the creation reflected the Diwali theme of light conquering the darkness.
“There is a candle and bringing light,” she said. “The powders and colored sand are a custom, an old tradition. The drawing uses all the colors together and makes it a perfect celebration.”
Fuldeore also noted there were “45 to 50 booths that include food and merchandise, non-profits and sponsors” at the event.
“People can have some kind of a shopping experience there and ethnic food and we have cultural programs which are the highlight,” he said before the event. “We have two sections including the kids’ stage where we are giving a part to the youth and kids to celebrate their culture in kind of a different way by putting on some dances and talent performances.”
Fuldeore said the local event is a special one.
“Last year, we had about 3,500 to 4,000 people come,” he said. “The whole high school was buzzing around. It was an amazing experience and it motivates us to do this again and again.”
Parida said the event is a popular one for everyone, including those of non-Indian descent.
“They love it,” Parida said. “Many of my friends enjoy the food and the activities and they feel like a part of it.”
Bruce Duffield of Naperville came to the Diwali festival Sunday and said he and his wife Denise “love engaging with our interfaith friends and people of other cultures.”
“We have a lot of friends. We deliberately seek out cultural experiences,” he said. “I hope as a result of being here we get a better understanding of Diwali and what it means to our Hindu friends and make some new friends and try to build relationships of trust in the community. There’s a lot of contention in the world and it’s because people don’t really know and engage with each other.”
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.