FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM OCTOBER 10, 2019 • BUZZ • THE QUEENS COURIER 67
Courtesy of Flushing Town Hall
buzz
Flushing Town Hall to host Diwali Festival in November
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Diwali will be observed on Oct. 27 this
year, but the celebration of the Festival
of Lights will continue at Flushing Town
Hall’s fi ft h annual day-long Diwali celebration
DJ Rekha (Courtesy of Flushing Town Hall)
Master indian dancer Abha Roy (Courtesy of
Flushing Town Hall)
Photo courtesy of Flushing Town Hall
Chickpea Biryani from Queens Curry Kitchen
Courtesy of Flushing Town Hall
Broccoli stuff ed fl atbread from Queens Curry
Kitchen
fi lled with dance, music and traditional
Indian cuisine on Saturday, Nov. 2.
Th e Diwali Festival will include cooking
workshops, dance lessons, family-friendly
activities such as henna painting, a jewelry
workshop, and Indian fashions and
games.
“Diwali is a festive time of gift -giving,
charity and sharing in feasts with loved
ones,” said Ellen Kodadek, executive and
artistic director of Flushing Town Hall.
“We are excited to continue this tradition
for the fi ft h time at Flushing Town Hall
and to provide an experience that fi lls all
senses: musical performances, classical
dance, traditional food, henna painting,
fashion and much more.”
Diwali, or Deepavali, comes from the
Sanskrit word meaning “row of lights.” It
is a day of solidarity, where the soft light
of diyas – or oil-wick candles – illuminate
streets and homes, banishing the darkness
of ignorance and suff ering. Diwali began
as a part of an ancient harvest festival,
which celebrated the fertility of the earth
and prosperity of the new harvest. Th ough
Diwali has taken on a signifi cant meaning
in Hinduism, in India it is still celebrated
by all groups regardless of religious affi liation
as a time of renewal and growth.
Th e three-hour celebration will feature
DJ Rekha — a London-born, Flushingraised
musician, DJ, producer, curator and
activist. She has been credited with pioneering
Bhangra music in North America,
a dance and genre of music originating
from the state of Punjab in India.
“Diwali is a celebration of light over
dark, and I want people to experience the
jubilance of dancing to festive music. Th is
event is especially dear to me because I
spent kindergarten to fourth grade, and
then my college years, in Flushing so it
always feels like a homecoming,” said
Rekha, who has performed at the Obama
White House and internationally. “It is
also great that it is during the day and the
audience is all ages. I will be spinning a
variety of bhangra, Bollywood and global
beats with the aid of a dancer to engage
the audience with a dance lesson. Th e collaboration
with Abha Roy is also a way
to bring storytelling, music and dancing
together for the fi nale.”
Roy, a master Indian dancer along with
the Srijan Dance Center will present traditional
kathak dance dramas. Prior to the
performance, each artist will introduce
guests to their form and learn Kathak
dance moves and Bhangra folk dances
mixed with hip-hop.
“I want everyone to share the feeling by
participating in dance, craft s and Indian
food workshops. I hope everyone will take
back home some color of happiness in the
form of henna in their hands,” Roy said.
“I want guests to experience the ‘urge to
merge for global peace,’ classical dance
and music beyond boundaries.”
Guests will also be treated to traditional
Indian dishes from Nupur Arora, owner
of Queens Curry Kitchen. Arora will cook
mouth-watering authentic Indian dishes,
including chickpea biryani, broccoli
stuff ed fl atbread boondi raita (chickpea
and yogurt).
“Th ey will see fi rsthand how easy it is to
replicate fl avorful cooking at home without
buying a million ingredients,” Arora
said. “At the end of the day, it is an important
time of year for Hindu’s around the
world, with open hearts, open homes and
platters full of delicious homemade food
and confections. As immigrants, we don’t
have as much time as our mothers had,
but we can do whatever possible to recreate
some of the joy by sharing it with other
people from all faiths.”
Samosas, paneer tikka, laddoo and
chai will be served for sale. Additionally,
Marriellen Nya Abba Gittens will demonstrate
traditional Indian beading and her
work will be sold at the celebration; and
Shamsum Elite will share her Indian fashions.
Th e event runs from 1 to 4 p.m. at
Flushing Town Hall, located at 137-35
Northern Blvd. in Flushing.
Tickets are available for $20 to the public,
$15 for members, $10 for students and
children. Teens can get in for free. Tickets
are available at www.fl ushingtownhall.org.
Additionally, Flushing Town Hall will
hold two school shows for grades four
to eight on Friday, Nov. 1, at 10 a.m. and
11:30 a.m. To make reservations, call 718-
463-7700 ext. 224 or email education@
fl ushingtownhall.org.
The Nov. 2 Flushing Town Hall Diwali Festival will feature a mash-up of Bhangra and Kathak music and dance styles, including traditional indian cuisine.
/ushingtownhall.org
/www.fl
/WWW.QNS.COM
link
/ushingtownhall.org
link
