The fourth annual Diwali celebration will be held at the West Windsor Library on Saturday, November 17, at 6 p.m. The Indian Festival of Lights was postponed from November 3 due to the hurricane. there is also a Diwali event at Plainsboro Library on Saturday, November 10.
Nita Mathur, the senior reference librarian at the library, has organized a colorful evening of music, dance, crafts, and workshops that highlight the rich cultural traditions of India. A sampling of traditional Indian food can be enjoyed after the cultural show.
A workshop in Garba (Indian folk dance) for ages 7 to 18 will be offered at 5 p.m. by Smita Miki Patel, founder of the India Performing Arts Center. An important element of Diwali is decorating homes with small clay tea lights called Diyas. Children will be painting and decorating diyas to take back home. Both programs require registration at www.mcl.org (click on programs, West Windsor Branch).
The cultural program also showcases classical, folk, and Bollywood style dances as well as classical Indian instrumental pieces. More than 50 performers will be taking part in this musical extravaganza that will include professional musicians as well as students of all ages from the Nupur School of Dance, Kalanjali School of Dance, Kalaalaya School of Arts, India Performing Arts Center, and the Center for Kuchipudi Dance.
Other scheduled to perform are Deepal Chodhari with a classical composition on the Indian stringed instrument of Santoor, and Pratik Devasthale, a professional tabla player, with the sounds of the popular percussive Indian instrument.
Diwali and Workshops, Plainsboro Public Library, 9 Van Doren Street. Saturday, November 10, 1 to 5 p.m. Music, food, and demonstrations. Workshops include clay pot painting and creating Diwali cards from 1 to 2:45 p.m. Henna and rangoli from 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. Free. 609-275-2897 or www.lmxac.org/plainsboro.
Diwali Festival, West Windsor Library, 333 North Post Road. Saturday, November 17, 6 p.m. Music, dance, crafts, foods, and workshops. Refreshments include Indian desserts. Register for workshops. Free. E-mail nmathur@mcl.org for information. 609-799-0462 or www.mcl.org.
