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Bridgewater Commons to host Diwali festival on Nov.2
A highlight of the event will be a performance by the Satrangi dancers, marking first-time Diwali celebrations at Bridgewater Commons.
A performance by the Satrangi dancers will be a highlight of Diwali @ The Commons, the first celebration of the Hindu Festival of Light to be held at Bridgewater Commons. / Bridgewater Commons
Following the celebrations of Halloween, Bridgewater Commons in Bridgewater, New Jersey is set to honor its South Asian community with its first-ever Diwali celebration. The event, hosted in partnership with Renascent Media, will feature a vibrant mix of music, dance, crafts, and giveaways, reflecting the cultural richness of Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Light.
"Diwali is about joy, good food, fireworks, candles, and lamps," said Tom Kovacic, marketing and business development director at Bridgewater Commons. "As the heart of a diverse population in Central New Jersey, our center has a rare privilege in our industry to honor our substantial South Asian community. We're thrilled to host a celebration that we can all enjoy and learn from."
The event, Diwali @ The Commons, will take place on Nov.2, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the mall's Center Court.
A highlight will be a performance by the Satrangi dancers, to mark the first-ever Diwali event at Bridgewater Commons. The Satrangi School of Fusion, a premier Bollywood dance studio from Edison, New Jersey, will showcase a Bollywood dance performance led by choreographer Roheet Baxi, featuring both adult and child dancers.
Navrang Dance Academy will make a presentation depicting the return of Lord Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana after their 14-year exile, a central story of Diwali. "Guests will experience the breathtaking moment when Lord Rama...returns to his kingdom...after the heroic defeat of Ravana," a spokesperson said.
The event will also include various family-friendly activities, such as henna art, decorative tea lights, and Indian sweets. Aarti, the traditional Hindu prayer ritual, will invite attendees to hold electric candles in a symbolic gesture. Additionally, a photo booth and shopping prize giveaways will be available for attendees to capture and share their Diwali experiences.
Bridgewater Commons has embraced its diverse community through annual cultural celebrations since 2022, which include Lunar New Year and Chinese Mid-Autumn Lantern Festivals. This year's Diwali event marks a continued expansion of these efforts. "Some of America's most vibrant Indian communities can be found in Central New Jersey and represent a large percentage of shoppers at Bridgewater Commons," said Kovacic. "We are proud to honor them and join them in celebrating this beautiful, light-filled festival."
Renascent Media, known for its work in ethnic marketing and production, expressed excitement over the partnership with Bridgewater Commons. "Celebration of cultures serves as a powerful catalyst for building bridges between people of different backgrounds," said Tanvi Prenita Chandra, founder of Renascent Media. "Through this collaboration, we hope to highlight the importance of cultural diversity and togetherness."
New Jersey is home to the second-largest Indian-born population in the United States, with around 185,000 South Asians living in the state, according to South Asians Leading Together, a non-profit organization.
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