Stuyvesant Lights Up: Diwali

Diwali, a religious holiday celebrated by those who practice Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, celebrates the victory of good over evil. In the most popular version of Diwali’s story, Hindu God Rama and his wife, Sita, defeat the Demon King Ravana after 14 grueling years of exile from his hometown, Ayodhya. Their touching return to Ayodhya is welcomed with shining lights from citizens, emphasizing good over evil and the triumph of community. 

On October 17, 2025, the Indian Culture Club, South Asian Youth Association, and Hindu Student Council hosted Stuyvesant’s Diwali celebration. It included a presentation on Diwali, a henna and diya station, musical and dance performances, numerous Indian dishes, and a dance floor. It was a lively event and an excellent opportunity for students to engage in South Asian culture.

Stuyvesant’s Diwali celebration attracted a diverse set of the student body. Some attended the event because they are members of clubs participating in the event, such as StuyBolly, which prepared a dance performance. Others initially unaffiliated with the event were guided by teachers who offered extra credit for attending. Whatever the reason, the event ended up being a large success with numerous opportunities for students to learn about and appreciate South Asian culture.

Several students were unfamiliar with Diwali’s origins and cultural significance prior to the event. “I used to think that Diwali was a Muslim holiday,” sophomore Tiffany Wang recalled. “It wasn’t until I asked one of my friends if she was going, and she was like, ‘No, that’s my other friend’s holiday, not mine.’” 

This general misinformation was shared amongst a large population of students. “I thought it was just a South Asian cultural thing. I didn’t know it was a part of a religion,” said Senior Risa Aarlev. Like many people, Aarlev was unaware of the diversity within South Asian communities and Diwali’s religious ties. Wang’s and Aarlev’s misconceptions surrounding Diwali reflect the need for cultural awareness, which Stuyvesant’s Diwali festival offered.

For some, just the mention of a Diwali event happening at Stuyvesant sparked conversations about South Asian culture. “That conversation alone taught me a lot more than I expected about how diverse South Asian religions and cultures really are,” Wang explained. It exposed her to a completely different culture, which she was given the opportunity to further explore. “I love exploring cultures beyond textbooks. AP World can teach you history, but events like this can teach you the heart of it, the food, the laughter, the way everyone celebrates together. I think that’s something no classroom can replicate,” said Wang.

Though the Diwali festival offered a unique introduction to an aspect of South Asian culture for unfamiliar students, it also provided a familiar space for those who had observed the holiday already. “I definitely think events like this promote cultural diversity as it encourages people, no matter their background, to come together and just have fun,” sophomore Gunjori Saha shared. “I like that a lot because it meant I got to meet other people within my community.” Stuy’s Diwali event has emphasized how important it is to support traditions.

In fact, Stuyvesant’s Diwali festival was similar to many celebrations students partake in at home. “We do puja, make rangolis with flower petals, that sort of stuff,” junior and StuyBolly director Pranav Purohit said. Students were able to interact with people and aspects of these traditions through activities like painting diyas and doing henna. 

The festival also included student performers, who got to share their culture through dance and music. In the festival, senior Amrit Das played the sitar, a traditional Indian instrument with around 20 strings, that creates a rich, layered sound from the vibration of the instrument’s strings when plucked. “What motivated me was [that] since I have this kind of ability to play the sitar, [I wanted to] reach out and play something to celebrate, as I’ve already been practicing something for Diwali. I was ready and willing to perform to celebrate and make sure that everyone had a good time,” said Das. He particularly enjoyed the sense of community. “This event embodied Diwali’s spirit of just being together with friends, community, and exchanging your time to be with friends and celebrate this occasion,” Das added. 

Another performance that many enjoyed was bolly-style dance. “Bolly almost always does at least one or two songs at most Indian or South Asian cultural clubs. 
Another part of it is [that] I had a great time performing last year, and it’s always super fun to perform. I’ve always loved performing because I do dance outside of school as well, and I’ve been doing that since I was very little. I also just love a good party, a good celebration, especially when it’s related to my religion,” said Purohit. As one of the directors of Bolly, Purohit enjoyed performing for the Diwali event to showcase an important event he celebrates every year, and to bring people together through his culture and love for dance. Through their performances, the Bollywood team encourages people to attend cultural events every year to both have fun and learn about other backgrounds.

The Stuyvesant Diwali Event captured the full picture of what Diwali is through the hands-on activities offered to guests. “Stuy’s Diwali event made me feel somewhat connected to my culture. While nothing can really compare to the Tihar celebrations I experienced back in Nepal, I really enjoyed the activity where we painted diyas and got to take them home. It was a unique and memorable experience,” senior Anjum Lama shared. While the Diwali event may not be exactly like Tihar, which is a Nepali holiday that also celebrates the victory of light over darkness, it helped guests gain more understanding about the holiday. 

However, some students have feedback for how the event could be improved. For one, the arrangement of the cafeteria made it difficult to view the center of the room. “None of us could see anything. People would be cheering [but] I couldn’t see anything they were cheering for,” said Aarlev. Despite the enthusiastic performances at the Diwali event, not everyone was able to enjoy the event due to issues with the arrangement. A different arrangement in the future would allow a better experience for everyone who attends by providing a clearer view.

In addition to the arrangement of the cafeteria, there was an issue with the distribution of food. “I think a lot of people like Indian food, but we were struggling to accommodate everyone, and that’s why we really wanted to encourage everyone to RSVP to the event itself. We did run out of food anyway, but we do have a limited budget,” said Purohit. In the future, students are encouraged to sign up in advance and show interest so organizers can accommodate them. Of course, as more cultural events like this occur, the organizers and faculty will have more experience and knowledge when planning.

Diwali isn’t only an event people learn about in school—it’s a holiday that is celebrated across the globe. Events like the Diwali celebration show others just how engaging celebrations from different cultures can be outside of history class. Perspectives of both newcomers and students who celebrate the holiday attest to the significance of cultural festivals in preserving and spreading awareness. The Diwali festival is a great example of what a culmination of student passion, hard work, and respect for culture can bring to Stuyvesant, and it should be a priority to continue cultural festivals that allow various communities at Stuyvesant to feel included.