Park lights up for Diwali Fest NJ

Park lights up for Diwali Fest NJ

South Asian arts and culture were celebrated Sunday at Diwali Fest NJ in the natural amphitheater in Memorial Park . More than 300 people attended the event that featured music, dancing, food, shopping and activities geared towards children. SOMA Cross-Cultural Works and the Township of Maplewood partnered to put on the sixth annual event timed […]

Festival of Lights celebrated in Maplewood Memorial Park

Festival of Lights celebrated in Maplewood Memorial Park

SOMA Cross-Cultural Works partnered with the Township of Maplewood to host the 6th annual Diwali Fest, a multicultural celebration of Diwali and South Asian arts and culture. Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. The event was held Saturday in the […]

Local convenience store owner continues Indian art traditions

Local convenience store owner continues Indian art traditions

BELLEVILLE, NJ — Roopa Raja, owner of Raja’s Deli on Washington Avenue in Belleville, practices rangoli, a traditional Indian art form in which the artist creates patterns on the floor or a tabletop using powders, which can be from rocks and sand, spices, flower petals, and more.  “No glue, no stencils to make it — […]

Joyful Diwali celebration held at West Orange High School

Joyful Diwali celebration held at West Orange High School

WEST ORANGE, NJ — A light-hearted and joyful Diwali celebration was held at West Orange High School on Sept. 25, organized by United Asian Voices of West Orange. The light rain that fell for a portion of the event did not deter the colorful and animated Bollywood and cultural performances, including mother-daughter team team Saayani […]

Community celebration of Diwali sparkles in West Orange

Community celebration of Diwali sparkles in West Orange

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The West Orange 2021 Diwali celebration lit up the sky at The Rock, a 6-acre parcel acquired by the township in 2013 using Open Space funds, on Nov. 1 as the community gathered to celebrate the holiday, which this year runs from Nov. 4 through 9.  Diwali originates from the Sanskrit […]

Maplewood community celebrates Hindu Festival of Lights

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — In honor of South Asia’s cultural and artistic diversity, the township of Maplewood and three local volunteer organizations — SOMA Masala, SOMAsian and SOMA Cross-Cultural Works — hosted the first Diwali Fest NJ at The Woodland in Maplewood on Sunday, Oct. 22. Diwali, or the Festival of Lights, is an annual celebration […]

Diwali Fest in Maplewood

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — In honor of South Asia’s cultural and artistic diversity, the township of Maplewood and three local volunteer organizations — SOMA Masala, SOMAsian and SOMA Cross-Cultural Works — will host the first Diwali Fest NJ at The Woodland, 60 Woodland Road in Maplewood, on Sunday, Oct. 22, from 12:30 to 6:30 p.m. The […]