It was a sight never seen in the City of Belleville.
The city’s first ever Diwali Festival filled Market Square Sunday with music, dancing, costumes, and lights for four hours.
Over 300 people, most of Indian descent and Loyalist College students, packed the square behind City Hall.
Diwali is a major post-harvest festival celebrated for five days throughout India by several different religious faiths and is a celebration of light over darkness.
(Photo: submitted)
Along with Loyalist College, Belleville’s Diwali Festival was organized by the city’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee chaired by Councillor Sean Kelly.
Kelly says he spoke with some Loyalist students who had been in Canada for only 30 days.
“They just thought how welcoming the Diwali celebration was yesterday for them. Thirty days into their new community and
a piece of home and a piece of history that they had a chance to celebrate with.”
Kelly said the president of Loyalist College Anne Marie Vaughan spoke at the event.
“Just talking about the impact that ourt Indian students have had at Loyalist College over several years and it’s just making the city become more diverse and just a really exciting place to live.”
Kelly says next year’s Diwali Festival will be even bigger and better.
(Photo: submitted)
(Photo: submitted)
