Diwali Mela: Light and knowledge over darkness and ignorance

Downtown Winnipeg held a prelude to the Diwali festival Saturday night.

Light triumphs over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance — a celebration of lights was held at RBC Convention Centre Saturday evening.

An event to celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights, brought cultural performances, food stalls, a shopping bazaar and more to downtown Winnipeg.

“We are celebrating long-time Diwali — this is before Diwali. We’re celebrating the Diwali Mela … our actual Diwali will be on Oct. 20,” Anita Roy, president of the Hindu Society of Manitoba, told CTV News.

Roy said the festival is not restrictive to Indian or Hindu people only, but for everybody.

“We welcome everybody. We have people from other countries … it’s for everybody to celebrate, come together with their family and enjoy the home away from home.”

She said her favourite part of Diwali is the lights.

“We also decorated so much light this year — this year (we have) more decoration of lights … I like to celebrate with everybody, not just my own family.”

Roy said the event brings the feeling of home for new immigrants.

“They come here and they enjoy because they are far from home. They feel like they are home away from home. They will miss the entertainment for sure.”