SEATTLE — Thousands of Indians in the Seattle area are getting ready to celebrate the Hindu festival Diwali on Nov. 12, but festivities kick off this weekend with cultural showcases across Puget Sound.
The Seattle Art Museum is going on more than a decade of celebrating Diwali in its many spaces, this year taking place at the Seattle Asian Art Museum.
Diwali is the festival of lights. It's a holiday that represents light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.
Translated in Sanskrit, Diwali literally means "row of lights."
"Diwali is about ending everything which is dark, which is negative and which is evil inside and around you," said artist Deepti Agrawal.
Agrawal founded Deepti Designs after moving to Seattle to fill the need to teach ancient Indian folk art to the younger South Asian community so the medium isn't forgotten.
She's one of many artists who will be sharing their art and teaching the traditions of Diwali this weekend through interactive activities for families.
"We believe that on the day of Diwali Lord Ram, who went for exile for 14 years - he came back with his wife and brother and while he was coming back, his entire kingdom lit these oil lamps to welcome him," shared Agrawal.
Diwali is celebrated on the darkest night of the month, according to the lunisolar calendar which falls in either October or November.
Diwali is celebrated for five days. On the first day, people clean their homes to welcome Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and good fortune.
On the day of Diwali, the third day, homes are lit with small decorated oil lamps called Diyas to welcome Lakshmi.
Traditions include sweets, Diya's, dance and an Indian sand art form called Rangoli - many of which will be on display this weekend.
"It's just been an easy partnership and the values just align," said Dheepa Ramani, a volunteer with Asha for Education, the non-profit that's been curating Diwali at SAM since the beginning doubling attendance to an expected 300 people on Saturday.
"This year's show is going to be completely different from the previous years, we are trying so many new things," said Ramani.
Ramani also promises anyone who attends "a slice of life (in) India."
Kids and families will be able to decorate their own Diyas, paint on a community mural, hear stories, and see dances.
But Agrawal says her favorite part about Diwali at SAM is the curiosity.
"Some of them also relate saying, "oh I have an Indian neighbor and we see them putting up lights and lanterns on the porch and now we know what that means."