Medway's Diwali Festival
October 26, 2024 @ 4:00 PM
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Co-hosted by the Medway Cultural Council and Medway Marches, your neighbors in Medway invite you to our third town-wide celebration of Diwali - the Festival of Lights - on October 26, 2024, at the Medway High School.
Join us for a family friendly night of vibrant music, dance, henna, storytelling, lamp painting and a spread of Indian delicacies in celebration of the triumph of light over darkness!
You can purchase your entry ticket using the RSVP link below.
Individual: $5 | Family: $20
Welcome
3:45 - 4:15 PM
Check-in with your ticket, obtain your event bracelets and find a seat for the show!
Cultural Showcase
4:00 - 6:00 PM
The Diwali Showcase not only honors professional dancers and musicians trained in various Indian art forms including Carnatic Music, Kathak, Semi-Classical Folk Dance, Mohiniyattam and Bollywood; but also highlights the hidden talents in our community!
Tandoor and Curry on Wheels will have meals and snacks available for purchase before and during the event.
Bazaar
6 - 8 PM
Wander through our marketplace of activities, vendors and merchandise. You can get henna tattoos, paint a clay lamp, hear stories about Diwali, design a paper lantern, or shop for Indian souvenirs!
The exchange of sweets is an important Diwali tradition symbolizing the triumph of hope over despair. In honoring this tradition, we ask all attendees to bring homemade sweet treats for our Dessert Potluck/Mitthai exchange!
Hasta Dance School
A budding dance academy, Hasta School of Dance was formed to share the knowledge of Indian Classical Dance (Bharatanatyam) by learning Nritta (Pure Dance), Natya (Combination of literature, Music, Drama) and Nritya (Footwork and face expressions). The mission is to promote an ancient art form to various communities based out of the United States. Founder and Instructor Smt Priya Ganpatiraj has been trained in Bharatnatyam since the age 3. She started her learning in 1993 in Mumbai, Maharashtra under the guidance of Guru Kum Vasantha and Smt. Indumati. Priya recognized her passion and with support of her parents from the age of 7, she started her curriculm from Bharatiya Sangeet Samiti and Akhila Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyala. Sangeet Visharad, Nritya Shiromani, India and Asia book of records are some of her accolades. Priya also has some additional training in Kuchipudi and has performed the same in her ARANGETRAM! Outside of Dance, Priya has a full time career in the Pharmaceutical industry.
Chitra Muraleedharan
Chithra Muraleedharan embodies the dual roles of a Software Engineer and an Indian classical dancer, her professional expertise intertwining seamlessly with her deep-rooted passion for dance. Born into a prestigious family of Koodiyattam performers, she began her dance journey at the age of seven with her arangetram in Nangiarkoothu, marking an important milestone in her career as a dancer. In India she pursued intensive training in Mohiniyattam and Kathakali under the guidance of Guru Kalamandalam C. Gopalakrishnan. After relocating to the United States, she still continues her rigorous training in Mohiniyattam under the expert guidance of Guru Dr. Sunanda Nair, the senior-most disciple of Padmabhushan Dr. Kanak Rele. Over the span of the past 12 years, she has diligently practiced and refined her craft, embodying the essence of Mohiniyattam with grace and unwavering dedication.
Art of Dancing
At Art of Dancing, we offer both Bharatanatyam and Bollywood dance classes, creating an enriching and dynamic experience for both kids and adults. We believe in the transformative power of dance, not only as a physical activity but also as a means of self-expression, cultural exploration, and community building. Our dedicated and experienced founder and instructor, Payel Ghatak has learned Bharatnatyam (Kalakshetra style) from various Gurus: Smt. Munmun Chatterji, Guru Kalyan Bakshi, and Guru Sreelakshmi Iyer, for 25+years. She has been choreographing and performing in several prestigious events in India and in USA and earned several awards. She is actively collaborating with Lakshanya Kalakshetra Academy (Bangalore, India) for preparing students for their Arangetrams. She is committed to nurturing a love for dance and helping students develop both technical precision and a deep connection to the rich cultural heritage of India. Whether you're a beginner taking your first steps or an experienced dancer looking to refine your skills, our classes cater to all levels, ensuring a supportive and inclusive learning environment.
Triveni School of Dance
Triveni School of Dance is a non-profit organization dedicated to the education and performance of Indian classical dance, social awareness, and the celebration of cultural diversity, founded in 1971 by Neena Gulati - an acclaimed dancer from New Delhi, India. The school, based in Brookline, MA, trains dancers every week in three forms of Indian classical dance: Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, and Odissi. As they learn these techniques, dancers prepare for their arangetram, or artistic debut, featuring a two-hour solo performance. In addition, the Triveni Ensemble gives many performances annually - including benefits for other charities - at multicultural events, schools, community centers, and, universities where lectures are combined with demonstrations and workshops.
Diwali is India's biggest annual festival, deriving its name from the row (avali) of clay lamps (deepa) that Indians light outside their homes to symbolize the triumph of light over darkness.
Learn more about Diwali here: https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/pages/article/diwali
This festival would not be possible without the generosity of sponsors, partners and community members like you!
We understand that each business has unique capabilities and needs. We hope that you or your organization find a sponsorship level below that suits your needs. If not, we would be happy to discuss customized sponsorship options.
Bronze ($50)
Name and logo on our website and program brochure AND one dedicated post on our event’s Facebook page.
Silver ($100)
Name and logo on our website and program brochure, one dedicated post on our event’s Facebook page AND a vendor table in our event marketplace.
Gold ($200)
Name and logo on our website and program brochure, one dedicated post on our event’s Facebook page, vendor table in our event marketplace AND honorable mention during the Cultural Showcase.
Select your sponsorship by hitting the RSVP button below! If you would prefer to remit payment via check or Venmo, please email us at stuthi@medwaymarches.com.
Please contact Stuthi Balaji at stuthi@medwaymarches.com.