Celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights, with NMAA! Learn how different regions celebrate the holiday through food, discussions, crafts, and activities. Enjoy traditional dance and music performances, create crafts to take home, and see the museum lit up once the sun goes down.
Program Details:
Food Vendors
3–8 p.m.Enjoy cuisine from the Indian diaspora with local food vendors on the Freer Plaza, including Rasa, Glassey, Trini Vybez, and Himalayan Soul Food.
Try a sampling of traditional Diwali sweets from Swaadish by Neelma in gallery 27, located outside of the shop in the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, level B1.(Samples are first come, first served while supplies last.)
Crafts & Coloring
3–5 p.m. – Join artist Shanthi Chandrasekar as she creates a special kolam for the celebration outside of the Freer Plaza.
3–8 p.m.Make a postcard in the Freer Courtyard to wish your family and friends a happy Diwali.
Color a diya in the Sackler Pavilion in the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery on level 1.
Performances
3:30–5:30 p.m. – Enjoy traditional dance performances throughout the day in the Meyer Auditorium, located in the Freer Gallery of Art, level G.
3:30-5:30 p.m. – Special pop-up dance performances by Spilling Ink.
6 p.m. – Performance by Rāginī Ensemble on the Freer Plaza.
7:30 p.m. – Dance performance by DC Bhangra Crew to kick off our Afterhours Dance Party.
7:45–9:15 p.m. – Afterhours Dance Party on the Freer Plaza!
Special Decorations
5–9:30 p.m. – Enjoy seeing the Freer Plaza and Moongate Garden lit up to celebrate Diwali. Lights will turn on at sundown (around 5 p.m.) and will be preceded by a traditional blessing called an arti.
