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player ready...Dozens of Vernon Area Public Library patrons turned out for the recent “Celebrating Diwali through Dance and Storytelling” showcase, celebrating a major Indian holiday.
Organizers said 87 adults and children filled the meeting room at the library in Lincolnshire for the hourlong event Nov. 18. Families were encouraged to try dance moves, and to engage in movement using finger and hand gestures as part of the celebration. Picture book story reading was also part of the program.
“As a public library, we are intentional about offering programs and events that reflect the diversity in our area,” said library spokeswoman Catherine Savage.
The five days of the festival are based on the Hindu lunar calendar, typically during late October or early November. This year, Diwali began Nov. 10 with the festival largely observed on Nov. 12.
“Our community is amazingly diverse,” Savage said. “Roughly 1 in 3 homes speak a language other than English, and our local schools report … 60 or 70 languages, many of them from India, along with Korean, Russian, Mandarin, Spanish and more. So we look for opportunities to highlight and celebrate elements of those cultures.”
Savage said Diwali and other cultural events offer a chance for the greater community to learn about new things, especially ones important to their neighbors.
“This is the stuff that brings us together,” Savage added. “This is how we build community.”
Gopi Engineer, of Chicago, and sibling Nupur Engineer, of Houston, Texas, shared their expertise as part of Meher Dance Company of Chicago.
“We both grew up in the United States (Tennessee), our parents are from India and culture was a big part of our heritage growing up,” Nupur Engineer said. “But in school, we never really heard about it, it was only at home but now it’s nice to be able to share our love and joy of culture with everyone, and everyone’s very curious about it (Diwali), everyone wants to know.
Gopi Engineer explained that Diwali is the “Festival of Lights” and centers on individuals illuminating the light within them and sharing it with the world.
“And I think at a time like this, it’s just nice to be able to spread that kind of light with everyone and we like to do that through music and dance,” Gopi Engineer said. “It’s one way of celebrating Diwali but it’s another way to connect with the community.”
Neetu Ojha attended the library event with her 8-year-old daughter, Annika.
“This is the biggest holiday in India,” Neetu Ojha said. “It is so important to us families who celebrate.”
Karie Angell Luc is a freelancer.