On October 17, the Cormier Youth Center came alive. With bright lights, rhythmic music, and the aroma of Indian food filling the Cormier Youth Center, more than five hundred residents gathered for Andover’s annual Diwali celebration. Organized by Andover Elder Services, Chinmaya Mission Boston, and the town’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission, the event turned the space into a colorful festival of food, dance, and togetherness. Known as the Festival of Lights, Diwali celebrates the victory of light over darkness and good over evil, a theme that resonated throughout the evening.
According to Ann Ormond, Economic Development Director for the Town of Andover, the celebration reflected the town’s continued commitment to honoring its diverse cultures,
“This is the third year that we, the town, have taken the lead in doing the Diwali festival with a number of community partners. The first year we did it, we got a grant from the Mass Cultural Council, and then we continued it for the next two years. We partner with Andover Elder Services, the Youth Center, Chinmaya Mission, and the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Commission of the town. Partners for food are Indian Bistro and Monica’s Mithai,” said Ormond.
Guests enjoyed a setting full of color, music, and activity. Tables offered hand-painted henna, jewelry, and festive clothing. Children danced while families enjoyed samosas, sweets, and spiced tea. The night balanced traditional customs with local flair, creating a space where everyone could participate.
“The event started at 6 p.m. at the Andover Reuse Center. There was Indian street food and drinks like an iced tea type of drink and water, so no alcohol was served, which is great. It’s family friendly. There were vendor tables for hand-painted henna, jewelry, decor, clothing, and similar things. We had an introductory program where one of the elders from Chinmaya Mission Boston did an overview of what Diwali is,” said Ormond.
The large turnout surprised even the organizers. Many expected fewer than two hundred people, but the crowd more than doubled that estimate. Kaya Mangani ’27, an attendee, remembered the moment the Youth Center filled past capacity and how everyone still managed to celebrate together.
“The biggest surprise was just the number of people that showed up because two days before the event, only fifty people had RSVP’d, but then on the day of, around five hundred people showed up. Seeing how many came to celebrate this tradition was really cool. They did an amazing job setting it up and running everything. They even had to get more food during the event because they ran out,” said Mangani.
Beyond the music and food, the night carried a sense of recognition for South Asian culture within the broader Andover community. For Mangani, the festival created space for voices that are often overlooked in larger discussions of Asian identity.
“Oftentimes, South Asian representation gets glossed over when you think of just Asian representation as a general concept. So seeing an event just solely dedicated to South Asian culture was something new and also exciting to have for the town and to see some of the people there. That was really special. It was extraordinary how impactful it was. So many people came and enjoyed the events, and all the hard work really paid off,” said Mangani.
Ormond emphasized that inclusivity remained central to the event’s purpose. The festival’s wide range of participants showed that Diwali could unite residents of different backgrounds under a single celebration of joy and renewal.
“It wasn’t just South Asian Indian folks. It was a good cross-section of the community. Everyone came together to celebrate light, joy, and togetherness. The Festival of Lights is something the town embraces from a diversity and inclusion standpoint, just like we do with Chinese New Year. We wanted to embrace this as a very important community event,” said Ormond.
Students like Nishad Iyer ’28 from Andover High School shared the sentiment of inclusivity. He described the mix of performances and the welcoming energy that filled the room once the dancing began.
“There were non-Indian dancers that danced, and there were some non-Indian people that showed up and then took part in the celebration. That’s cool. It shows the diversity of Andover, that there are enough people to hold a Diwali celebration and enough care to do it properly and well. The message was perfect, that Diwali is for everybody. Everyone could come, have fun, eat food, and take part,” said Iyer.
Iyer believes that the event’s success will inspire more recognition for holidays beyond the mainstream ones often celebrated in town. He hopes that Diwali’s example will encourage future events that honor underrepresented cultures.
“It’ll impact future events in general, especially cultural ones that aren’t as mainstream as Christmas or Thanksgiving. There are many Hindu holidays that aren’t acknowledged, and this event helps bring attention to them. It’ll affect all cultures, but more so South Asian ones because other cultural events in comparison already get more publicity. This event helps set that precedent for more recognition and celebration,” said Iyer.
