Vancouver Celebrates Diwali

Celebrated across South Asia, the festival of Diwali is a unifying event with different significance but equal importance in many communities. Its worldwide festivals are a celebration of light over darkness that symbolize the triumph of good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. People give expression to their happiness by lighting diyas (clay lamps), displaying rangoli (colorful floor mosaics), decorating their houses, setting off firecrackers, partaking in sumptuous feasts, and celebrating with dance, music, and storytelling. For all, it is a time of renewed spirit, celebrated with family and the community through joyous music, dance, crafts, and delectable sweets.

Check out photos from previous events at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vancouver-celebrates-diwali/

Background

In the Spring of 2004, a number of organizations, businesses and individuals came together with a vision of producing a city-wide event in various locations to celebrate this significant festival. Festivities began in November 2004 with a proclamation by Mayor Larry Campbell of Vancouver Celebrates Diwali Week and continued with programming at South Vancouver Neighbourhood House and four Vancouver community centres with workshops and events that reflect the richness of this ancient festival. With dance, food, and diyas (small oil lamps), people across the city learned more about this South Asian festival. Diwali Week ended with a large celebration in the Roundhouse Community.

Since then, the festivities and workshops have grown to more than 10 centres, and there are also larger city-wide Diwali events featuring the work of established and emerging South Asian artists.

For more information on upcoming city-wide events please go to the Vancouver Celebrates Diwali website at www.vandiwali.ca

Vancouver Celebrates Diwali operates under the registered non-profit Diwali Celebration Society. The Festival is managed by a tireless group of volunteers from across Vancouver's professional, service and artistic communities. Partners include the City of Vancouver, Vancouver Park Board, businesses, organizations and community partners including Neighbourhood Houses.

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