Diwali – Festival of Lights to be celebrated in Leppävaara

Diwali is a Hindu festival widely celebrated in India, Nepal and many other countries around the world at the turn of October and November, during the Hindu calendar’s New Year period. In many ways, Diwali resembles Christmas: people clean and decorate their homes, light candles, give presents, enjoy delicious food, and spend time with their loved ones.

“Diwali is very special for me and my family and the main festival of the year. It holds a lot of significance for me as it symbolises the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. For me, it is also an opportunity to reflect on the past year and look forward to new beginnings,” says Shefali Arora, Chair of the Finnish-Indian Society. 

This year’s celebration is special in many ways: it is part of the 75th anniversary celebrations of the Finnish-Indian Society, and the all-day event is full of exciting programme and activities that offer an opportunity to experience and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of India. The event is organised in collaboration with Espoo’s Cultural Venues and Services. 
 

The masterful musical collective Dhoad Gypsies of Rajasthan will give a spectacular performance on the stage of Sello Hall near the Leppävaara train station at 6 p.m. on Sunday 27 October. The show will be full of vibrance and colour! 

Dhoad Gypsies of Rajasthan is known as a cultural ambassador of Western Indian music tradition. The group’s award-winning founder and artistic director, Rahis Bharti, has spread the music culture of Rajasthan worldwide for over 18 years. This time, the group brings to life a spectacular depiction of ancient royal palace life on stage.

It is possible to purchase a meal voucher together with the concert tickets. The voucher entitles the ticket holder to a delicious take-away meal full of Indian flavours (vegan). 

Learn more about the Dhoad Gypsies of Rajasthan concert. 

The food stalls in the foyer of Sello Hall offer a wide range of delicacies from across India between 12 and 5 p.m. on Sunday 27 October. The bazar also sells henna tattoos, handicrafts and much more – find fabulous gifts and decorations for Diwali or get unique presents for Christmas! You can participate in a lantern workshop in Sello Hall and create beautiful traditional Indian lanterns. Lantern workshops are also held across Espoo this autumn before the actual Diwali festival day. 

Visit Sello Library next to Sello Hall to witness magnificent dance and music performances and join other fun cultural activities between 1 and 4:30 p.m. You will not want to miss out on Maria Baric Company’s fire show at Soittoniekanaukio Square at 5 p.m.!

Shefali encourages all Espoo residents to celebrate Diwali: 

“Everyone is welcome to join the festivities.  In the dark autumn, it will be wonderful to experience the joy and excitement of this traditional Indian festival full of light and colours. This is a great opportunity to learn about Indian culture, enjoy delicious food, and participate in a vibrant and colourful celebration.” 

According to Shefali, working with Sello Hall and the City of Espoo has been a great experience for the Finnish-Indian Society. Leena Hoppania, Manager of Cultural Services at Espoo’s Cultural Venues and Services, is also pleased with the collaboration:

“Diwali is a festival of light that symbolises the values of hope, joy and mutual understanding. We are happy to participate in the event, as Espoo’s contribution promotes the multiculturalism and community spirit of the city. By helping organise the event, we respect Indian culture and increase people’s knowledge of it. This reinforces the message of Espoo as an attractive, diverse and open-minded city.”
 
Diwali – Festival of Light will be held in and around Sello, Leppävaara, from 12 to 8.30 p.m. on Sunday 27 October. The programme is mainly free of charge (with the exception of the concert of Dhoad Gypsies of Rajasthan). 

Learn more about Espoo’s Diwali festival at espoo.fi/diwali