Central New Jersey’s dominant retail center to host traditional and modern music and dance performances, South Asian crafts, and giveaways to celebrate the Festival of Light
Our Bureau
Bridgewater, NJ
Bridgewater Commons, in partnership with Renascent Media, celebrates the South Asian festival of lights with a spectacular live show in Center Court filled with music, dance, crafts, and giveaways on Saturday, November 2, 1 pm – 3 pm in New Jersey.
Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights, symbolizing the spiritual “victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.” Guests dressed in traditional clothes are set to experience a delightful mix of Diwali celebrations.
“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.”
Diwali is the Hindu Festival of Lights symbolizing the spiritual “victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.” Over the centuries, the five-day celebration has become a national holiday in India, observed by other faiths as well, and honored wherever South Asians live.
The event will have special guest emcees Radio Guru Kulraaj Anand and Anchor and Producer at ITV Gold Piya Jyoti Kachroo. The Bollywood dances will be performed by the Satrangi School of Fusion, a Bollywood dance studio by choreographer Rohheet Baxi. The group will feature adult and child dancers as young as 8 performing traditional and contemporary fusion Bollywood dances.
The main attraction will be an epic Ramlila theatrical presentation by the Navrang Dance Academy, with guests experiencing the breathtaking moment when Lord Rama, alongside Sita and Lakshmana, returns to his kingdom after 14 years of exile and the heroic defeat of Ravana.
The Diwali celebration will feature arts and crafts tables for families including the Henna art application, decorative tea light and Indian sweets giveaways. The event will provide shopping prize giveaways and a selfie photo booth to share the Diwali experience.
An Arti, a Hindu prayer ritual employed in worship in which light from a flame is ritually waved to venerate deities, will be performed with guests holding electric candle lights.
Renascent Media, a pioneer in ethnic marketing and production, is thrilled to spearhead its partnership with Bridgewater Commons to celebrate Diwali.
“Celebration of cultures serves as a powerful catalyst for building bridges between people of different backgrounds, and my goal is to bring mainstream brands to South Asian content. Through this collaboration, we hope to highlight the importance of cultural diversity and togetherness,” said Tanvi Prenita Chandra, founder of Renascent Media. Additionally, “By celebrating the ultimate victory of Good over Evil, we can raise awareness about the importance of light, hope, and unity.”
“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,” Kovacic said. “We are proud to honor them and join with them in celebrating this beautiful, light-filled festival.”
Bridgewater Commons began its South Asian cultural celebrations in 2022 with Bollywood dance spectaculars in Center Court that featured over 40 performers drawing hundreds of guests. The annual program has evolved and grown into this year’s Diwali celebration. The 2024 Diwali celebration promises to be a fun-filled affair at The Commons, again.
