West Windsor Library’s youth department hosted a Diwali celebration on October 5. The youth service department members Margit Chelluri, Lisa Kerr, Dragana Drobnjak, and Susan Flacks worked behind the scenes to ensure the event ran smoothly. Rina Banerjee, the library’s director, supported the event.
The event, featuring dance, music, culture, and food, was chaired by Kinnari Ajay Hundiwala, founder of the Shivam Academy of Fine Arts. A teacher of dance for 25 years, she was also the emcee for the event.
The day began with a presentation about Diwali by Diya Hundiwala, Lola Mallela, Tanvi Kulkarni, and Jyothika Tummala. It was followed by a dance performance featuring Bharatnatyam dance movements. The dancers, ages 6 to 10, wore traditional colorful Indian outfits and danced with Diya lights in their hands.
Akshay Gupta, Arjun Ramkrishnan, and Ananya Ramakrishnan, all students of Hemant Kulkarni, performed Hindustani music.
A Bollywood medley featuring Indian festivals was performed by Kinnari Hundiwala’s dance students. The dancers included Gayatri Mathur, Lola Mallela, Jyothika Tummala, Diya Hundiwala, Eesha Srinivasan, Tanvi-Avani Kulkarni, Ritika Manikandan, and Eshika Kasturi. Their mothers joined them to represent the Indian culture.
Puja Mathur presented information and a quiz focusing on Diwali. Diya Hundiwala and Tanvi Kulkarni presented the American anthem. The Indian anthem, Jana Gana Mana, was performed by Diya Hundiwala on keyboard while the audience members sang.
Children dressed in Indian outfits paraded through the library accompanied by Indian music. The parade was led by children holding American and Indian flags.
Hundiwala presented a Garba workshop where children learned traditional Garba dance movements. Children explored a variety of crafts on view throughout the library including Diya painting, Rangoli chalk coloring, door hangings, and more.
The event ended with “Taste of India,” a sampling of sweet and salty Indian foods for each participant. Hundiwala has already volunteered to participate in the planning and execution of next year’s event.
