Diwali celebrated on P.E.I.
Members of P.E.I.'s Indo-Canadian Association hosted hundreds of Islanders at a Diwali celebration this weekend.
Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an ancient Hindu celebration. Organizers say the event to mark it on Prince Edward Island gets bigger every year.
"I moved here 3 years ago, since I'm here every year it's grand event," said Nirmala Chinnappareddy, secretary of the Indo-Canadian Association of P.E.I.
"Many people know [about it] and they ask for tickets. Every year when it comes to fall season, October, they ask when is Diwali? Can we get some tickets in advance?"
Organizers decorated a gymnasium at Cornwall's rec centre and prepared a traditional feast for an expected 300 people. Chinnappareddy said a larger venue was needed this year to meet the demand.
Association vice-president Krishna Dasgupta, who has lived on the Island since the 1970s, said the province has become more diverse, and the interest in multicultural celebrations is growing.
"Still numbers is limited but … all kinds of people from different cultures and different countries [are] coming," said Dasgupta.
With the way the celebration of Diwali is growing, the group is looking for a venue to host 400 next year.
