Doylestown hosts its first annual Diwali Day

Doylestown had its first annual Diwali event at Burpee Park this Sunday. Hosted by Desis of Doylestown and Youth4Unity, community members came out for the festival of lights.

By

Daniella Heminghaus

November 7, 2021

Larissa Hopwood and Aparna Nair, from Doylestown, dancing. The first annual Diwali festival in Doylestown on Nov. 7, 2021. (Daniella Heminghaus for WHYY)

Hosted by Desis of Doylestown and Youth4Unity, community members came out for Doylestown’s first annual Diwali Day at Burpee Park on Sunday afternoon. Diwali is a festival of lights celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and some Buddhists. Local dancers performed, and there was a Diya lighting ceremony featuring Silvi Haldipur, from Desis of Doylestown, Paree Pasi, from Youth4Unity, Doylestown Mayor-elect Noni West, and state Sen. Steven Santarsiero. Ron Strouse, the borough’s current mayor, unveiled a proclamation making Nov. 7 Diwali Day.

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Saanvi Potnis (left) and Arya Haridas (right) dance at the annual Diwali festival — Saanvi Potnis (left) and Arya Haridas (right) dance at the first annual Diwali festival in Doylestown on Nov. 7, 2021. (Daniella Heminghaus for WHYY)

Lela Casey lights a sparkler, surrounded by others, at a festival — Lela Casey (center), from Doylestown, lighting a sparkler along with others at the first annual Diwali festival in Doylestown on Nov. 7, 2021. (Daniella Heminghaus for WHYY)

Mayor Ron Strouse with Silvi Haldipur — Mayor Ron Strouse with Silvi Haldipur at the first annual Diwali festival in Doylestown on Nov. 7, 2021. (Daniella Heminghaus for WHYY)

Food provided by Cross Culture at the first annual Diwali festival in Doylestown on Nov. 7, 2021. (Daniella Heminghaus for WHYY)

Suri Yeghen, of Buckingham, getting a henna tattoo from Bina Bengali, of Fountainville at the first annual Diwali festival in Doylestown on Nov. 7, 2021. (Daniella Heminghaus for WHYY)

Henna tattoos at the first annual Diwali festival in Doylestown on Nov. 7, 2021. (Daniella Heminghaus for WHYY)

Jay Pasi, of Furlong, (center) teaching other kids how to play Carrom at the first annual Diwali festival in Doylestown on Nov. 7, 2021. (Daniella Heminghaus for WHYY)

Sarah Beltz taking a photo of John Paul and Eli Johnson, of Doylestown at the first annual Diwali festival in Doylestown on Nov. 7, 2021. (Daniella Heminghaus for WHYY)

Mayor Ron Strouse at the first annual Diwali festival in Doylestown on Nov. 7, 2021. (Daniella Heminghaus for WHYY)

Saanvi Potnis (left) and Arya Haridas (right), of Doylestown, dancing at the first annual Diwali festival in Doylestown on Nov. 7, 2021. (Daniella Heminghaus for WHYY)

Saanvi Potnis (left) and Arya Haridas (right), of Doylestown, dancing at the first annual Diwali festival in Doylestown on Nov. 7, 2021. (Daniella Heminghaus for WHYY)

Two people dancing, dressed in colorful saris, during a Diwali celebration. — File photo: Saanvi Potnis (left) and Arya Haridas (right), of Doylestown, dancing at the first annual Diwali festival in Doylestown, Pa., on Nov. 7, 2021. (Daniella Heminghaus/WHYY News)

Paree Pasi at the first annual Diwali festival in Doylestown on Nov. 7, 2021. (Daniella Heminghaus for WHYY)

A closeup of a sari — A closeup of a sari at the first annual Diwali festival in Doylestown on Nov. 7, 2021. (Daniella Heminghaus for WHYY)

A closeup of a sari — A closeup of a sari at the first annual Diwali festival in Doylestown on Nov. 7, 2021. (Daniella Heminghaus for WHYY)

Geetha Gaj dances at a Diwali festival — Geetha Gaj (center), of Bengal, India, dancing at the first annual Diwali festival in Doylestown on Nov. 7, 2021. (Daniella Heminghaus for WHYY)

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick attends the first annual Diwali festival — Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick attends the first annual Diwali festival in Doylestown on Nov. 7, 2021. (Daniella Heminghaus for WHYY)

Silvi Haldipur at the first annual Diwali festival — Silvi Haldipur at the first annual Diwali festival in Doylestown on Nov. 7, 2021. (Daniella Heminghaus for WHYY)

Dr. Umar Farooq at the first annual Diwali festival — Dr. Umar Farooq at the first annual Diwali festival in Doylestown on Nov. 7, 2021. (Daniella Heminghaus for WHYY)

Mayor-Elect Noni West at the first annual Diwali festival — Mayor-Elect Noni West at the first annual Diwali festival in Doylestown on Nov. 7, 2021. (Daniella Heminghaus for WHYY)

Sen. Steven Santarsiero at the first annual Diwali festival — Sen. Steven Santarsiero at the first annual Diwali festival in Doylestown on Nov. 7, 2021. (Daniella Heminghaus for WHYY)

Left to right: Silvi Haldipur, from Desis of Doylestown; Paree Pasi, from Youth4Unity; Mayor-elect Noni West; and Sen. Steven Santarsiero lighting the Diya at the first annual Diwali festival in Doylestown on Nov. 7, 2021. (Daniella Heminghaus for WHYY)

Lighting the Diya.
The first annual Diwali festival in Doylestown, PA on 11/7/21.
[DANIELLA HEMINGHAUS] — Lighting the Diya. The first annual Diwali festival in Doylestown, PA on 11/7/21. [DANIELLA HEMINGHAUS]

Display of flowers and candles for a Diwali celebration in Doylestown, Pa. in 2021. — File photo: The first annual Diwali festival in Doylestown, Pa., was celebrated on Nov. 7, 2021. (Daniella Heminghaus/WHYY News)

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