With sun shining and festive colors at every turn, approximately 1700 people from Boxborough, Acton, and beyond gathered on Sunday, October 19 to celebrate the Hindu festival of Diwali. The term Diwali originates from a Sanskrit word meaning “row of lights” and is a major South Asian holiday celebrating the triumph of light over darkness and of good over evil. Friendship and cooperation were evident as people of all backgrounds enjoyed the food, music, dance, and art of the Indian American community.
Located at the Sargent Memorial Library in Boxborough, the event had been postponed one week due to rain. Event founder, Deepika Prakash, was grateful for the “immense support” of the Boxborough Police Dept and of Peishan Bartley at Sargent Memorial Library for making the event happen. “It’s a huge undertaking,” she noted. Prakash also highlighted the role of cultural programmer Arpita Das Pathak of Littleton. “Arpita has been an integral part of Diwalifest since its inception in 2022 and continues to bring diverse forms of Indian dance and music to Diwalifest!”
DiwaliFest in Boxborough is in its fourth year. Prakash shared the origin of the event. “I had this crazy idea that we should celebrate Diwali as a community, regardless of our cultural backgrounds.” She added that when her family was new to the area, Jewish neighbors invited them to a Passover celebration, which she saw as a powerful act of kindness. This has grown into a firm belief. “I feel that we are a better community if we celebrate each other’s cultures,” stated Prakash. “You have to make it fun for everybody. You have to make sure that everyone feels included.” Her vision was clearly evident in DiwaliFest 2025, with its diverse crowd and variety of vendors.
Youth participation was also clearly on view, from dancers and artists to young people staffing booths and volunteering in many capacities. Two young dancers, Alisha and Aanya, shared their excitement about a modern version of a traditional Odissi dance, where movements and poses tell stories and recall sacred meanings. “We share the diversity of India,” said Alisha. “Yes, we show the different things that India offers, like the musical artists, the animals, and stuff like that,” added Aanya.
At a nearby booth, two Acton-Boxborough Regional High School students, Ashrita and Suravi, were selling bracelets as a fundraiser, and educating the public about DESA, which is the South Asian Student Union. “In the spring we are hoping to have a Garba that would be open to everyone at the high school.” Suravi explained, “A Garba is all about having fun. It’s an opportunity for everyone to come together and dance. It’s a LOT of movement!” She added that just as the U.S. has folk dances that bring the community together, for example as square dancing traditionally has, a Garba is a communal event where everyone shares the same steps.
DiwaliFest organizer Prakash said the youth presence is the real reason for the festival. “If we want to bring about a positive change, we have to give the platform to young people. We have to empower youth.” Besides the many young dancers and the students tabling, there were 32 student volunteers from Acton, Boxborough, and Littleton to make sure the celebration ran smoothly, from greeters to trash collectors.
Event attendee Mehjabin Kapasi of Westford reinforced the element of youth involvement. “This is definitely a bridge to home. My kids have grown up here. We tell them stories of India and they get to experience it here.” She mentioned that her two children in college now “try to seek out where they see these Diwali parties happening and . . . love to dress up in our traditional clothes.”
Many local businesses also participated in DiwaliFest, selling food, jewelry, chocolate, books, and other goods, even responsible gift-wrapping. State Senator Jamie Eldridge was spotted near the chocolate shop! Visitors had a wide range of food choices from ice cream to Indian breads, with many healthy meal options in between.
Other art forms applauded at DiwaliFest were henna designs, music, and sidewalk art. A high-energy drum performance drew the largest crowd of the day. Performed by the group NEMM Josh, in the tradition of Dhol Tasha, the drummers dazzled with high-speed stick work and echoing beats. The musicians burned many calories creating the crowd-pleasing rhythms!
The Rangoli contest was another brilliant addition. Rangoli participants “drew” sidewalk art with colored sand, with images from island palms and floral designs to a colorful dancer with a message, “Happy Diwali!”
Karen Root Watkins is a retired public school and Montessori educator who now honors her students by working on clean energy and climate education with EnergizeActon.org.
