Torontonians can celebrate Diwali this weekend at North York and the Spadina Museum. Here’s what you need to know about the festivities.
What is Diwali?
Diwali is the Indian New Year, also called Deepavali, and also referred to as the Festival of Lights. Diwali is also considered the most important and grand holiday in India, where it’s observed by dressing in your finest clothes and lighting the interior and exterior of their homes with saaki (or earthen lamps). Then it’s time to participate in a huge party with tons of food, gifts, and fireworks.
How to celebrate in Toronto?
- This year, there’s a Diwali festival that will be hitting North York on November 11th from 5pm-3am, and it’s free!
There will be cultural musical performances, food trucks with Indian food, craft vendors for holiday shopping, and more–all for the entire family.
Where:
- The Spadina Musuem will also be holding a few activities to celebrate Diwali. Decorate your own clay diya (tea light holder) with brightly colourful patterns and design your own rangoli floor motif. Spadina Museum will be hosting these activities from now until November 12th, and it’s also free.
Where:
- To end the day, we’d recommend getting some sweets from Samosa Sweet Factory with sweet treats like pink cakes, pink sandwiches, and gulab jamun, which are sweet dough balls almost like doughnut holes. If you’ve never tried Indian sweets, this would be a great opportunity for giving them a chance.
Where:
1850 Albion Road
However you decide to celebrate Diwali, we hope the weekend brings you excitement and fun during this year’s Indian New Year.