By: Molly Petrilla
PLAINSBORO People of all religions and ethnicities are invited to join Plainsboro Public Library for its 11th year celebrating Diwali, the five-day Indian festival of lights, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
The early-evening festivities will include a dance competition for both groups and individuals and a live traditional Hindi music performance. The library will also host a sari parade, in which women and girls will be escorted through the library in a fashion-show format.
Library Director Jinny Baeckler called the celebration "an incredibly wonderful opportunity" since "Indians can celebrate and other people have the opportunity to come join in and see what (the holiday) is like." She also said that usually several hundred people attend the annual event.
According to Ms. Baeckler, the celebration is sponsored by Puthenmadam Radhakrishnan and Shankar Panthanan two Plainsboro residents who work as pediatricians in Children’s Preferred Care on Route 1.
"We really couldn’t do it without them," she added. "Absolutely all of (the funding) comes from them."
In addition to the celebration Saturday evening, Assistant Children’s Librarian Neera Kothary planned two "Diwali Traditions" workshops. On Thursday, residents created "rangoli," colorful floor patterns, and next Thursday they will be able to attend a workshop in the library from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. to make "diyas" small pots that function as oil lamps.
This is the second year the library has hosted such workshops, and Ms. Baeckler said she "got teary-eyed" last year while watching black, Asian, Caucasian and Indian residents come together to work on the Diwali-themed projects.
"We allowed parents to teach children and Indians to teach everybody else," she added. "Everybody is welcome."

