Sunday, November 6
10am–4pm
Free admission all day (Free First Sunday)
Celebrate the traditional fall Indian “Festival of Lights†with the India Society of Worcester on WAM's Free First Sunday! Diwali gets its name from the row (avali) of clay lamps (deepa) that Indians light outside their homes to symbolize the inner light that protects from spiritual darkness. Join us for a full day of Indian dance, music, food, and art making!
Schedule
- ISW Welcome and Diwali Lamp Lighting
11am, Renaissance Court
Get ready to be immersed in a lively rhythmic musical experience! This year's program will be kicked off by ISW Symphony's Dhol Tasha team that will have you all dancing to its drumbeats! This is followed by the lighting of the traditional lamp to symbolize the victory of light over darkness. - Diwali Cultural Programming with Dance and Music
11:20am-1:15pm, Renaissance Court
The Indian Society of Worcester presents a full line-up of traditional, modern, and contemporary Indian performances in the Museum's grand Renaissance Court. - Story Time with the Indian Society of Worcester (ISW)
11:30am, 2:30pm, Nook in Education Wing (HEW)
Hear the epic tale of the Ramayana: of good overcoming evil, light over darkness, and knowledge triumphing over ignorance. - Bawarchi Biryanis: Authentic Treats Available for Purchase
11:30am-3pm, Museum Café
The popular Bawarchi Biryanis restaurant of Framingham will provide traditional Indian cuisine available for purchase. - Henna by Meghna
11am-3pm, Hoche Conference Room
See how a mehndi artist works and receive your own henna. - Docent Tour of Indian Art
1pm, Meet in Lancaster Lobby
Special docent-led tour focused on India connections. - Fashion Show: “Wedding Saree A Cultural Heritage of Indiaâ€
2-2:45pm, Renaissance Court
Get a close-up view of the vibrancy and color of India's traditional wedding garments in this Diwali cultural and fashion show. - Studio Art Activities
11am-3pm, Studios 101 & 102, Higgins Education Wing
Check out Studio 101 to learn how to draw henna patterns for a paper hand. In Studio 102, learn about Madhubani Art Coasters and try your hand at this type of Indian folk art from Mithila, a region in the state of Bihar, northern India.
