Clarion International Association will celebrate Diwali: The Festival of Lights at 5 p.m. Nov. 1 in the third-floor lobby of the Science and Technology Center on the PennWest Clarion campus. Free and open to all, the festival includes an Indian buffet and Indian music. Those attending can light sparklers, get a henna tattoo and make a Diwali candle to take home. 

“Cultural celebrations such as Diwali are great opportunities to explore other cultures and religions with the students, employees and community,” said Dr. Natasha Dias, associate professor of biology and CINTA advisor. “By exposing them to different lifestyles and customs, we help create a future generation of open-minded adults who are empathetic and globally aware.”  

Diwali represents the symbolic victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil. The festival is celebrated by many Asian countries, including India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Fiji, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Singapore and Myanmar, as well as some other nations that follow Hinduism and Buddhism.