Cozby Library’s Diwali Family Fun Night brings community together while celebrating joyous festival

Ranjan+Gupta+helps+his+son+make+a+paper+lantern+at+Cozby+Library%E2%80%99s+Diwali+Family+Fun+Night+on+Tuesday.+Decorating+lights+is+one+of+the+main+customs+of+Diwali.+Photo+by+Sreeja+Mudumby

Sreeja Mudumby

Ranjan Gupta helps his son make a paper lantern at Cozby Library’s Diwali Family Fun Night on Tuesday. Decorating lights is one of the main customs of Diwali. Photo by Sreeja Mudumby

Sreeja Mudumby, Staff Writer

On Tuesday, the Cozby library at Coppell hosted Diwali Family Fun Night, a free event where families come together and celebrate with books, crafts, and various activities for children. 

Diwali is the Festival of Lights, and is celebrated by many around the world. The word Diwali comes from the Sanskrit language, and means “rows of lights”. Some of the main traditions associated with Diwali include lighting firecrackers, making sweets to share with neighbors and lighting diyas, or clay lamps. 

“We just know that Diwali is important for our community, [and] we just wanted to give everyone a chance to celebrate with us at the library,” said Lauren Osburn, one of the event hostesses. 

This event allowed people to get to know more about Diwali.

The event opened with Osburn and Cassandra Young, the hostesses of the event, reading two Diwali stories, The Diwali Gift and Shubh Diwali!. They also sang two songs made by the hostesses in the tune of two very popular nursery rhymes, “London Bridge is Falling Down”, “Happy Birthday to You”. These simple, yet fun, activities cheered up the kids for the night. 

“I wanted to bring my little one here, because we were missing out on all of the Diwali fun that we used to have in India,” attendee Anu Nadgar said. 

Following the warm ups, the children enjoyed a few snacks, and went straight to work. Families were provided materials to create and decorate paper lanterns with jewel and gem stickers.

This is part of the Diwali culture, when families decorate diyas, as well as various other customs. 

“Diwali is one of my traditions that my family does,” said Soly Jacku, one of the kids participating at the event. “On the floor, we make rangolis (sand art) and mess it up on the floor.

Though most of the participants were already aware of Diwali and celebrate it at home, some people came to the event to familiarize themselves with the festival. 

“This is the first time I’ve had an occasion to celebrate Diwali,” event volunteer Jan Lorren said. “And I like the excitement.”  

Though the event was hosted on a Tuesday night, many families had lots of fun participating in the Diwali celebrations. Kids made new friends and parents met other families. Not only was this event a fun-filled evening, it was also a great way for new interactions. 

 

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