Friday, January 17, 2025
As the Hindu holiday of Diwali comes to a close, Subrina Singh of Baldwin reflects on her experience hosting “Let’s Learn About Diwali” at the Baldwin Public Library on Oct. 19, where a diverse crowd gathered to celebrate.
“It was very fulfilling for me,” she said, who is a member of the Baldwin Middle School PTA board. “(It was) extremely rewarding.”
Singh said roughly a dozen attended the event aimed at kindergarten to 3rd grade children.
Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is one of the most significant Hindu festivals celebrated by millions worldwide. This holiday symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. Typically observed in October or November, Diwali lasts up to five days and features various rituals and prayers. This year, the festivities began on Oct. 28 and will conclude on Nov. 2.
Families celebrate the holiday in various ways, including lighting diyas—tiny clay oil lamps that represent the victory of light over darkness. Other traditions include decorating homes, setting off fireworks, and exchanging gifts.
At the library, children celebrated Diwali with Indian snacks, fun interactive activities and a book reading. A favorite for the children was a Rangoli Mandala floor puzzle that they worked on throughout the event. A Rangoli is an ancient Hindu art from India derived from the Sanskrit word “Rangavalli.”
To explain Diwali’s message to the young audience, she read “Diwali: A Festival of Lights” by Anita Yasuda.
“I like when I’m reading that I do something interactive,” she said. “We had open-ended questions such as, “Has anyone ever heard of Diwali?’ or ‘Have you ever celebrated it?’
“So it really got the children to be interactive in conversation,” she added. “As we read the book, we took moments to discuss what we are seeing.”
A highlight for Singh was the diversity of the event, as families from all different backgrounds came to learn about her holiday.
“That was my number one goal, hoping that we have a diverse group coming to the event,” she said. “I think when you are hosting an event that is new to a community that introduces a new culture, new tradition or holiday, it’s a greater success when you have a diverse group of participants because that’s how we know we are breaking through barriers.”
Singh credits Martha Garvey, head of the children’s department at the Baldwin Public Library, for putting forward the event and Akruti Babaria for the activities.
Looking ahead, Singh intends to bring the event back next year.
