On October 16th, Montclair will have its first-ever Diwali celebration. Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a major holiday that is celebrated by many all over the world. The holiday, celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and some Buddhists, lasts for five days and is meant to signify the win of light over darkness and good over evil. Keep reading to learn more about Montclair’s first-ever public Diwali celebration.
AAPI Montclair and the Montclair Art Museum (MAM) will host Light Up Montclair, Montclair’s first-ever Diwali celebration. The celebration will be open to the public at Montclair Art Museum located at 3 South Mountain Avenue in Montclair, New Jersey on October 16, 2021, from 12:00PM-3:00PM, and the rain date will be October 17th.
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Light Up Montclair will offer multiple activities in order to teach community members about Diwali and be able to celebrate and learn together. There will be cultural performances, art, craft activities, and food and merchandise for purchase, all outside on the grounds of the Montclair Art Museum.
A portion of the proceeds from this event will be donated to Equality Labs, a civil rights organization centering on 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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About AAPI Montclair
AAPI Montclair is a grassroots organization of over 450 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the Montclair, NJ area. The goal is to create a a space to share experiences and help unify voices to create action and representation for the community. The group welcomes all AAPIs and parents of AAPI children in the Montclair, NJ area.
About the Montclair Art Museum (MAM)
The Montclair Art Museum (MAM) boasts a renowned collection of American and Native American art that uniquely highlights art-making in the United States over the last 300 years. Works in MAM’s Native American art collection span the period of ca. 1200 C.E. to the present day. The Vance Wall Art Education Center encompasses the Museum’s educational efforts, including award-winning Yard School of Art studio classes, lectures and talks, family events, tours, and the mobile MAM Art Truck. MAM exhibitions and programs serve a wide public of all ages, from families and seniors to artists, educators, and scholars.