Diwali Festivities Light Up Asia Society
Bollywood dancers perform at Asia Society New York on October 21, 2017. (Elsa Ruiz/Asia Society)
Children get on stage and learn Bollywood dance moves at Asia Society New York on October 21, 2017. (Elsa Ruiz/Asia Society)
Children take the stage for festive dancing at Asia Society New York on October 21, 2017. (Elsa Ruiz/Asia Society)
Kids create and decorate their own traditional Diyas — small clay lamps that symbolize the light of knowledge and goodness — at Asia Society New York on October 21, 2017. (Elsa Ruiz/Asia Society)
Parents and children enjoy family-friendly crafts including creating patterned floor decorations called 'rangolis' at Asia Society New York on October 21, 2017. (Elsa Ruiz/Asia Society)
Audiences enjoy traditional interactive music by Raga Kids featuring sitar, guitar, bansuri, singing, and tabla in multiple languages at Asia Society New York on October 21, 2017. (Elsa Ruiz/Asia Society)
This past weekend, children and adults enjoyed an afternoon of performances and activities at Asia Society in celebration of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights.
Festivities began with storytelling with Kathak dancer Parul Shah, who recounted the story and spirit of Diwali to a captivated crowd of families. Kids made their way onstage and joined the energetic Bollywood and Bhangra dance performances courtesy of Bollywood Axion of New York City and traditional Indian folk music by Rada Kids. The celebrations continued with do-it-yourself patterned floor rangoli decorations and clay Diya lamps — a Diwali tradition that represents the light of knowledge and goodness.
Check out some of the highlights from the festivities in the slideshow above.