The JPS Hinduism Club hosted their Diwali event on Friday, November 16. Diwali is an important holiday in the Hindu religion that celebrates the victory of light over darkness. This event allows for the students who might not be aware of the holiday to experience how it is celebrated and the significance behind it as well. 

“As a Hindu who celebrates Diwali, this event was a great way for me to embrace my culture and celebrate it with my peers,” said junior Nishchal Gurram. “I enjoyed the vibe of the night with the music and the dancing as well.” 

The event kicked off at 4:30 PM and it ran for a few hours. Several volunteers arrived before the event to set up tables and garland decorations in the cafeteria. The club arranged for a number of activities for students to take part in throughout the event as a way to get acclimated to Indian culture. They set up food for people to indulge in which included an assortment of Indian delights such as paneer wraps and kathi rolls. Adding to the ambience of the event, they also played Indian music in the background which was run by the JPS DJ club. 

Following the traditions of Diwali, the festival of lights, one of the activities that people could take part in was painting diyas. Diyas are small Indian oil lamps that are typically used in many Indian ceremonies and festivals. Along with this, an additional customary Indian activity that was available was mehndi. Mehndi is an activity done in many major festivals and it involves creating designs on the skin with henna to bring prosperity and good health to a person. These designs are typically done on the hands or feet. 

“Taking part in these activities made the event very enjoyable and fun,” said junior Sakshi Gorkhali. “I loved being able to design the diyas with my friends and laugh about our painting skills.”

The overall atmosphere throughout the event was pleasant and everyone was enjoying their time there as they talked and laughed with their friends. People danced to the vibrant music with smiles on their faces as they could let go of their stress after a long week of school and have a fun time with their friends. The event was not just about making lights, but it was also about bringing people together to bond over a common culture.

“Going to this event was exactly what I needed, and was a perfect way to end my week,” said senior Riddhi Wadhwa. “My friends and I had a really good time eating all the good Indian food and dancing to the music too.”

Overall, the event was a major success in celebrating Indian culture through the holiday of Diwali. The culture was able to bring a diverse group of people together, creating an opportunity for bonding and making memories. The Hinduism club produced a quality event and will hopefully host more like this throughout the rest of the school year.