Diwali at Shishya

by Dyuthi Ananth (contribution by Sukanya Mahadevan)

Every year, as the sky glows with lamps and laughter, Diwali — the Festival of Lights — reminds us of an ancient story that continues to guide the human spirit. Across India, Diwali is celebrated as the homecoming of Lord Rama, who returned to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile and victory over the demon king Ravana. The people of Ayodhya lit rows of lamps to welcome their king, symbolizing the triumph of dharma (righteousness) over adharma (evil). In other regions, the festival honors Goddess Lakshmi, the bringer of prosperity, and Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. No matter the tale, the message remains the same — that light always overcomes darkness, both in the world and within the self.

This message finds a beautiful reflection in Bharatanatyam, India’s classical dance of devotion and storytelling. Through expressive gestures (mudras), rhythmic patterns (adavus), and soulful expressions (abhinaya), dancers retell stories of gods and goddesses, much like how Diwali keeps ancient legends alive through ritual and celebration. A Bharatanatyam performance during Diwali often invokes the divine feminine — the power of Lakshmi, Saraswati, or Durga — whose light symbolizes knowledge, abundance, and strength. The dancer’s body becomes the flame, her rhythm the heartbeat of creation, and her art an offering to the divine.

Together, Diwali and Bharatanatyam form a luminous union of mythology and movement. Both celebrate not just external brilliance, but the awakening of the inner light — the victory of wisdom, compassion, and faith over ignorance and fear. As diyas (mud lights) flicker in every home and the sound of ghungroos (ankle bells), fills the air, we are reminded that true illumination lies in harmony — where story becomes dance, and devotion becomes light.

At Shishya we have our own tradition - giving back to our community. To this end, we performed first, at the local library and educated audiences on both Diwali and our beautiful ancient dance form. On Diwali day, we performed at a local Senior center. The festival of lights became a festival of joy when we saw the happiness and appreciation on the faces of these amazing seniors who were happy to be the audience and center of attention on this special day.