Aurora Diwali festival draws record crowd

AURORA, IL — With about 1,000 people from the area in attendance, Aurora celebrated its second annual celebration at Waubonsie Valley High School with lights, dance, music and food on October. 24, much like back home, but on a smaller scale.

The celebration of victory of good over evil and light over darkness, the main idea behind Diwali, was attended by some non-Indians as well, including Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner who formally opened the event by lighting a lamp in honor of goddess Lakshmi.
The city co-sponsored the celebration with the Indian-American Community Outreach Advisory Board of Aurora.
“We’re celebrating the Festival of Lights in the City of Lights,” Weisner was quoted as saying.
““Aurora, known as the ‘City of Lights’, with a multi-cultural presence is best-suited to host Diwali, India’s ‘Festival of Lights’”, said Krishna Bansal, Chairman, Aurora Indian-American Community Outreach Advisory Board.
Although it was observed on a much smaller scale compared to India, the celebrations gladdened the hearts of residents who described it as good, evoking memories of India.
The attendees also utilized the occasion to acquaint their children about the culture of India and its traditions so the second generation could carry on the torch.
Bansal thanked the high-profile guests, all the participants, sponsors, Advisory Board Members, media representatives, community organizations, management of the Waubonsie Valley High School, and the army of self-motivated volunteers for their support in making the event a formidable success.
While local Indian-American dance studios presented troupes of children performing traditional dances as well as Bollywood hip-hop routines, people, mostly children eagerly waited for the conclusion of the event with a display of fireworks.