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Upper School South Asian Student Alliance Shares on Diwali

Students welcomed Diwali with a Morning Ex led by members of the Upper School South Asian Student Alliance.

Presenters provided an overview of the annual festival of lights celebrating the victory of good over bad, light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. While there are typically five days of celebration in Diwali, this year’s calendar affords six days, and students shared details about each of the days: Dhanteras, Narak Chaturdashi, Diwali, Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj.

Student leaders took turns reading pages from Namita Moolani Mehra’s children’s book The Light Within You, which embodied many of the holiday’s traditional elements in telling the story of a young girl’s trip to India to celebrate Diwali with her grandmother. Choreographer and Meher Dance Company Director Gopi Engineer then led the students in a series of traditional movements associated with South Asian dance and outlined more about Bollywood and the many films that emerge from its studios.

The gathering closed with trivia, giving students the opportunity to reveal all they knew about Diwali and South Asian culture.

Enjoy photos and videos from the experience here.
Click here to learn more about Diwali from the Parents’ Association Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee.
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Francis W. Parker School educates students to think and act with empathy, courage and clarity as responsible citizens and leaders in a diverse democratic society and global community.