Thousands are expected to gather in Port Coquitlam on Nov. 4 to celebrate the triumph of good versus evil and light over darkness.
"Diwali: Festival of Lights" will be celebrated at the Port Coquitlam Community Centre (2150 Wilson Ave.) with treats, dance performances, workshops and art displays to mark the annual Hindu festival.
Organized by Mithila Karnik-Adarkar, the first-of-its-kind event is free for all community members to gather and bask in the festive spirit.
The celebration will bring South Asian artists from across Lower Mainland to the Tri-Cities including dancers from Spirit of Dance and Sudnya Mulye, BollyFusion and Preeti Singh teaching workshops.
The Diwali celebration will have an amalgamation of South Asian cultures, with classical music maestros Akhil Jobanputra, Mohan Bhide and Hriday Buddhdev taking the baithak stage, a Kashmiri folk dance, a Marathi Lavani performance and more.
"My hope is that this event is a great opportunity to have an immersive, explorative experience about South Asian culture through the dances, music as well as the Hindu Darshana Exhibit and market vendors — [all of whom] local women entrepreneurs with so much creativity to offer," said Karnik-Adarkar.
The Darshana Exhibit, she said, is a trove of knowledge for all those looking to delve into understanding a 5000 years old culture.
"My hope is to act as a catalyst towards an inclusive platform for showcasing multiculturalism in Port Coquitlam, where every member of the community can step out to enjoy a festival that is not their own culturally. This event is that very first step.”
Diwali is celebrated differently across India — some celebrate the homecoming of Rama, a Hindu lord, some celebrate the defeat of evil king, Narakasura.
But one thing is common: everyone lights up divas (candles) to celebrate the triumph of goodness during the festival.
Karnik-Adarkar said the day-long celebrations will be an amalgamation of different sub-cultures in India be most resonant of what every culture has to give — starting with lighting of the day for Lord Ganesha, followed by a Bhagavad Gita rendition by two little kids, dance performances and more.
"We don't have a very strong religious element to [the event] because I feel like we are co-existing in a space where people should be free to follow whatever traditional religious beliefs that they have," she said.
"But we want to ensure that people feel connected to the festival in the best way possible, which is just a celebration of a lot of different people coming together."
She hopes everyone — those new to Canada and want to escape the feeling of homesickeness, the South Asian diaspora to feel a bit home and the non South Asian population — can come out and enjoy the celebrations.
Diwali: Festival of Lights Celebration is free, but some workshops will require registering in advance.
It'll take place at the PoCo Community Centre from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Nov. 4.
For more information and a full schedule, you can visit the festival's Facebook page.
