In a first for Doylestown, the Hindu celebration of Diwali – Festival of Lights was joined by hundreds in the community on Sunday.
“It has meant so much to me to see this grassroots support,” said Sheela Rai, an Indian who helped organize the event with Desi of Doylestown, a newly formed group of Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi residents. Being a minority can be “isolating,” added Rai.
Youth4Unity, a local activist organization, and more than 20 co-sponsors also participated in creating the community event that featured Indian arts and crafts for children, music, Indian food, provided by Cross Culture restaurant in Doylesotwn, and Mendhi, an art form that uses henna to create hand art.
“We wanted to build on the excitement” of having Diwali marked as a religious holiday by the Central Bucks School District earlier this year, said Rai, a mother of two Central Bucks students.
It was the efforts of Paree Pasi, a Central Bucks high school student who lobbied to have the holiday recognized by the district, that encouraged the formation of Desi of Doylestown, she noted.
“Diwali is a day to celebrate light over darkness and good over evil and I think that resonates with everyone,” said Rai.
A Hindu spring celebration, Holi, may be the next event for the community, Rai said.
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