On November 4, 2024, the Princeton Day School community celebrated Diwali with a large gathering in the Campus Center. Displaying abundant joy and unity, students, staff, and parents participated in the evening’s festivities. The school-wide celebration started with telling the story of Diwali. As the younger speakers emphasized the triumph of good over evil, symbolized by the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana, Upper School students reminisced about their favorite Diwali memories and meals. Upper School students then performed a beautiful and energetic dance routine to popular Bollywood music.
9th grade dean and science teacher Abid Shakoor was very impressed by the turnout at the Diwali celebration. He particularly remarked about how the Campus Center was transformed for the evening from an afternoon lunch hub to a festive Diwali space, with rich color and music, creating an atmosphere of revelry.
The highlight of the evening was the sumptuous spread of gourmet delights brought in by PDS families. A queue quickly formed as everyone anticipated a delicious buffet, followed by a dazzling array of traditional desserts. Mr. Shakoor mentioned that he especially enjoyed the Jalebi, a spiral shaped crisp and juicy dessert made with flour and sugar syrup.
Junior Rhea Ajmera, remarked that “it was great to see so many families of different cultures celebrating Diwali together.” Junior Harrison Bagga, also shared this sentiment and added that the event was a great bonding experience for all three divisions along with the teachers.
As the event concluded, guests departed with a sense of satisfaction, enriched by the delightful fusion of food, music, and cultural charm. A hallmark of PDS celebrations, this year’s Diwali celebration proved a beautiful and educational event.
