Diwali: Festival of Lights
Saturday, October 22
9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Let’s gather together for one of the most celebrated holidays in Indian culture. Discover the meaning and rich traditions of Diwali by making a Diya lamp and enjoying music and dance. Diwali is one of the major festivals celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and some Buddhists. The festival usually lasts five days and is celebrated during the Hindu lunisolar month Kartika.
Hands-on Activity in the LeRoy Neiman Art Studio: Natural Illumination
Connecting with the Diwali and Día de los Muertos celebrations, artists will cut-out and color paper candles and flowers and transform them into 3D shapes to honor life, light, nature, and community.
Performances: 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Sindhu Shivani Ravuri has trained in Kuchipudi dance under the tutelage of Padmabhushans Raja, Radha and Kaushalya Reddy. She became one of the youngest dancers to be selected for the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival and has performed for the Parliament of India and Germany and received numerous awards, including an International Certificate of Recognition from UNESCO, placement in the Santa Clara County Youth Hall of Fame, YoungArts National Arts Award, and first place in Sony TV’s national Boogie Woogie competition. As one of few Indian American students trained by her gurus, she aims to integrate contemporary experiences and storytelling into Kuchipudi dance.
Indraadhanush – Center for Excellence has Odissi, Folk dances, Semi-classical, and Bollywood dances. The students are winners across prestigious dance competitions in Bay Area, CA. These Odissi dance students are certified by the Pracheen Kala Kendra, and Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal, India.
Video in the Theatre: Priya Raman AKA Miss Priya
Learn More about the Celebration
This program was made possible, in part, by a Cultural Affairs grant from the City of San Jose.
Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose is supported in part by an American Rescue Plan Act grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to support general operating expenses in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM PAST EVENTS
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This celebration is created in partnership with the Museum’s South Asian Cultural Advisors
The museum is committed to promoting the region’s diversity through the Cultural Celebration Series so that families of all backgrounds can explore the many cultures and traditions in Silicon Valley. Cultural celebrations offer opportunities for building global awareness for people to explore and understand their cultural differences and similarities.
The series includes: Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, Diwali Festival, Dia de los Muertos, Menorahs & Miracles, El Dia de Los Tres Reyes Magos, Lunar New Year, Children of the Dragon, Proud of My Family, and Juneteenth.