Montclair’s First Public Diwali Celebration Will Light Up Town

MONTCLAIR, NJ — AAPI Montclair and Montclair Art Museum (MAM) will host Light Up Montclair, Montclair’s first ever Diwali celebration open to the public at Montclair Art Museum, 3 South Mountain Avenue, on Saturday, Oct. 16 from noon to 3 p.m. The rain date is Sunday, Oct. 17.

According to a news release from organizers:

“Diwali, the festival of lights, is celebrated by millions around the world, and for many, it is considered the beginning of the New Year, often coinciding with harvest celebrations. Diwali marks new beginnings, the triumph of good over evil, and light over darkness.”

Organizers continued:

“Light Up Montclair, the town's first-ever public Diwali celebration, will feature family-friendly educational, cultural, and social activities to teach community members about Diwali and offer a chance to celebrate and learn together. The many facets of Diwali will be reflected in cultural performances, art, craft activities, and in food and merchandise for purchase, all outside on the grounds of the Montclair Art Museum.”

AAPI Montclair’s mission is to create a more inclusive Montclair and the greater community by uplifting the varied experiences of its Asian American and Pacific Islander communities and promoting awareness and education around AAPI culture and history, as well as advocating for the needs of the AAPI community. A portion of the proceeds from this event will be donated to Equality Labs (http://www.equalitylabs.org), a civil rights organization centering Dalits, one of the most marginalized groups in South Asia. Equality Labs is dedicated to ending caste apartheid, gender-based violence, Islamophobia, white supremacy and religious intolerance in the United States, across the diaspora, and in their home countries throughout South Asia.

Admission is free for MAM members. General admission is $5 for non-members, with fee waivers available. To RSVP, donate or learn more, visit aapimontclair.org.

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