Diwali Assembly Celebrates South Asian Culture and Tradition

Isabella Damas, Staff Writer • October 10, 2025

Khloe Cruz ’28, Manon Teixeira ’29, and faculty Joseph Golinski having henna applied at the Diwali celebration. During the celebration, the school community had numerous crafts and activities to participate in. “I thought it was really cool to be exposed to another culture,” sophomore Alexandra Nauomivich said.

Colorful strands of orange and yellow adorned the hallways outside of the cafeteria in the Upper School on Wednesday, Oct. 8 for the annual Diwali celebration. Students enjoyed a variety of activities, from crafts and dances to food and music.

“I love seeing students laughing and smiling together. So, for instance, the henna tattoos. To me, just looking at the table [the henna tattoo station], and seeing the goodwill of our students, the smile on their faces, and just the excitement they had was very meaningful,” Director of Upper School Belonging & Community Don Lawrence said.

Lawrence, parents, and the school’s maintenance staff collaborated to bring the Diwali celebration to life through months of communication.

“We started months ago with my team of parents, brainstorming the decor and what the assembly would look like, and as the event got closer, we spent more time sitting down and planning, so there were lots of text messages, emails, and buying of items to use for the celebration,” Lawrence said.

During community time, the Raider community gathered for a display of festive Diwali dances, and students were educated about the holiday and South Asian culture more broadly through presentations by students and parents.

Professional dancer performing a traditional South Asian dance in the Blue Dungeon. The assembly was held on Wednesday, October 8, to honor the South Asian cultural celebration of Diwali. (Susana Sahagun)

“I spoke at the assembly because my friend has invited me to celebrate Diwali at his house for many years. I think it’s important to educate students on Diwali because it is a holiday that a lot of people may not be familiar with that teaches universally good concepts like keeping one’s light on and spending time with friends and family,” senior Diogo Haddad said.

For many members of the community, the Diwali celebration was very meaningful.

“As a mother of two kids, I try to inculcate a lot of culture in my kids. Whether it’s Indian culture or the culture they’re getting brought up in [our family’s customs], my main goal is for them to understand their culture and have a culture to look up to. So, this event was very meaningful because other

students were educated on [South Asian] culture as well,” Math teacher Vidya Lad said.

About the Contributor

Isabella Damas, Staff Writer

Isabella Damas is a sophomore and staff writer for “The Raider Voice.” This is her first year on staff, and she looks forward to contributing through articles and podcasts. Outside of journalism, Isabella enjoys playing soccer, lacrosse, and spending time with friends.