All are invited to the day-long celebration of Diwali: Festival of Lights, hosted by the Worcester Art Museum. Diwali is India’s most celebrated national holiday. It is a time when family, food, beautiful adornments and displays come together to embrace knowledge over ignorance, of light over darkness. The sights, sounds and tastes of India will be sure to come to life during Worcester Art Museum’s Fall Community Day. Diwali Community Day will take place on Nov. 4. The event also coincides with Worcester Art Museum’s first free Saturday. This means that museum admission is free from 10 a.m.-noon. After noon, the event is free with regular museum admission. The second annual event is help in partnership with the India Society of Worcester. It will be a full day of programming and special performances, including…

  • Indian Dress Try-ons:  Visitors can view a variety of traditional Indian garments up close and learn how to drape a sari. Presented by India Society of Worcester.
  • Mehndi:   Henna artists will demonstrate the ancient tradition of body art called mehndi and apply henna designs on visitors’ hands.
  • Hands-on Activities:  Activities include making paper marigold chains, paper Diyas (Indian oil lamps) and Diwali greeting cards, as well as a variety of gallery games.
  • Music and Dance:  The India Society of Worcester presents a full line-up of traditional, modern and contemporary Indian performances in the Museum’s grand Renaissance Court.
  • Food:  Traditional Indian cuisine from The Bollywood Grill restaurant will be available for purchase. (Please note the Museum Café will not be open on this day due to the Community Day activities.)
  • Gallery Tours (note 3 different times):10:30 a.m. – Family Tour; noon – Zip Tour of WAM’s sculpture of the Hindu god Ganesha; 2 p.m. –Tour of the Indian Gallery with Vivian Li, curator of Asian art

For more information, visit worcesterart.org.