October 7, 2008

CARY , NC – On Saturday, October 11, 2008, Cary’s Koka Booth Amphitheatre will be filled with thousands of people of diverse backgrounds joined together for Diwali – the most widely celebrated Hindu festival that marks the victory of good over evil and the beginning of the New Year; Diwali means “a row of lights.”  From 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. , guests will enjoy an array of entertainment, arts, food, and shopping reminiscent of India .

Headlining this year’s festival is the internationally known Bollywood actress, model, singer and MTV VJ Raageshwari “Ragz”. Her repertoire ranges from pop songs to ballads, Bhangra to Bollywood, London Club to Underground Pub, Sufi to disco and the De Dandiya dance.   Following Ragz’s performance, the evening will culminate with a spectacular fireworks display.

“The theme for Cary Diwali 2008 is Santulan, a Hindi word that means stability or balance. People of diverse religious faiths and different ethnic backgrounds coexist in India , and Cary Diwali hopes to capture the spirit of this balance and coexistence through the festival’s cultural program, exhibition and vendor participation,” said Cultural Arts Manager Lyman Collins.  “In the spirit of togetherness, we are also looking forward to an appearance by Mary Jean Eisenhower, granddaughter of the late President Dwight Eisenhower.” 

Eisenhower, who serves as the president and CEO of People to People, will be on hand from noon to 1:30 p.m. as a special guest.  She is in Cary courtesy of the Sister Cities Commission to promote international understanding, which is also one of the goals of Diwali; she will also be speaking at a public event at 7 p.m. on Friday evening at Cary Town Hall .

Throughout the festival, vendors will sell a variety of cuisine from different parts of India .  Attendees can also visit and shop at the Bazaar for a wide variety of handicrafts, jewelry and music.

Diwali is co-sponsored by the Town of Cary ’s Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources department and Hum Sub, a non-profit organization dedicated to sharing the social and cultural traditions of India with residents of the Research Triangle area of North Carolina .   One of Hum Sub’s aims is to bring the highest quality programs to the stage while promoting local talent.

For more, visit Diwali at www.townofcary.org.

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