Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights, celebrated every autumn in the northern hemisphere. Diwali in BC, founded in 2017 by Rohit Chokhani, has a goal to spread Diwali celebrations throughout the province over the coming years.
The theme for the 2018 celebrations, running now until November 17, is ‘New Horizons’ and features programming in Vancouver, Coquitlam, Vernon, Maple Ridge, and Nanaimo.
“In our second bold and ambitious year, we respond artistically to racial tensions and gender abuse that continues to threaten the safety of the world in which we live, with the theme of New Horizons,” says Chokhani.
“In A Vancouver Guldasta, we have fresh conversations around trauma and healing through the lens of a Punjabi-Sikh family living with a Vietnamese refugee in Vancouver. In The Believers Are But Brothers we take a deeper look at toxic masculinity, and with Shyama we explore different colours of love, the price of desire, forgiveness, and morality through one of India’s most celebrated playwrights – Rabindranath Tagore. Chokhani adds, “We are also excited to expand our Diwali programming to three new cities while we continue to grow and evolve in the existing cities.”
Here is a look at the 2018 Diwali in B.C. programming:
A Vancouver Guldasta : October 2-21 at Vancity Culture Lab | Presented with The Cultch
Diwali in B.C., Vernon : October 9-13 various events and performances at locations around Vernon, including the Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre
Shyama : October 27 at the York Theatre
Co-presented with Vancouver Tagore Society and in community partnership with Mandala Arts & Culture Society, with support from BC Arts Council.
photo: Jack Offord
The Believers Are But Brothers : October 30-November 10 at Vancity Culture Lab | Presented with The Cultch
Diwali in B.C., Maple Ridge : November 10 at The ACT Arts Centre
This inaugural event is presented with The ACT Arts Centre.
Diwali in B.C., Coquitlam : November 11 at Evergreen Cultural Centre
Diwali at Evergreen is in its second year and is presented by the Evergreen Cultural Centre.
For details about these events and more are available at diwalibc.com