By: Peak Sen Chua and Ruthravathy 

On November 8, 2024, PreK-Grade 2 students participated in a celebration of Deepavali and Indian culture right here at M’KIS.

The kids were dressed colorfully, with boys dressed in kurtas and the girls dressed in sarees and kurtis. Parents in our global community also dressed up, and could also be spotted wearing bangles, bindis, and jhumka earrings, making the event a truly Indian cultural event! 

Students first danced to the famous Bollywood song, “Soniya Ve.’ The performance was followed up by a performance from professional Dhol drummers, who were joined by parents who had rehearsed for the performance on stage. The parents got into a groove, then hyped up the crowd as they walked down the stage to the audience. Teachers, students, staff, and parents could be seen joining in the dance as the drums played!

Following the energetic opening performances, the students participated in an acted out retelling of the Ramayana, the story of the origins of Deepavali. In the story, Prince Rama  and his companion Hanuman rescues his wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana from the demon King Ravana. 

After the performance our Indian parents hosted a delightful food sampling event for the elementary school in the main breezeway. Community members tried delicious treats like paneer pakoda, paratha, mini samosas, and more. It was a fun and tasty way to explore and learn about another culture!

Teachers Ms. Kristi Budworth and Ms. Nicki West were heavily involved in preparing the students for the performance. They said that the “Deepavali celebration was a beautiful representation of the rich diversity within our school community. It was inspiring to see our youngest learners, dressed in vibrant traditional attire, joyfully exploring the music, dance, and stories of Indian culture. Events like these highlight the importance of embracing and learning from the many traditions that make up our global community.”