Diwali, also known as the "festival of lights," is the largest annual Indian holiday, which was celebrated beginning on Oct. 24 this year. But Redwood Middle School sixth-grade students received a sampling of the holiday on Oct. 23 during a presentation by parent volunteers because the classes study India as part of their curriculum this year. The presentation also related to Saratoga's Building Bridges celebration of cultural diversity.

"We put candles all around the house and invite people over," Krisha interpreted for her friends seated near her. "It's like a party—a get-together."

The start of the five-day holiday varies, but its celebration always begins on the "night of no light." The holiday follows the lunar calendar, said Saratoga parent Shinku Sharma, when there is no moon in the sky. During this time people honor Lakshmi—the goddess of good luck, wealth and benevolence.

"We welcome the goddess Lakshmi to our homes to bless us for the year," Sharma said.

The time-honored story behind Diwali symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. Diwali is the corruption of the Sanskrit word deepavali. Deepa means light and avali means a row, combining to read "a row of lights."

Every household that celebrates Diwali is filled with songs and illumination, Sharma said, through small tea lamps and candles. Sharma also said families wear their best clothing and prepare delicious foods.

"It's so important to do this because we want all children to have as much of an understanding of as many cultures as possible," Sharma said.

The students learned how pooris are made, puffed breads that are deep fried in hot oil, as well as traditional parathas, or stuffed tortillas.

The students also tried desserts including a sweet pretzel called jalebi, and salted noodles called matri. They experimented on musical instruments such as the tabla, harmonium and dholak, with the assistance of parent volunteers such as Sian Trager, Mary Murphy and Maya Baba.

During Diwali, Sharma said, women typically dress in an elaborate, colorful silk sari, a six-foot-long piece of fabric often beaded with gold thread, while men wear the kurta, pajamas that include long shirts.

The children had the chance to practice the Indian art form of rangoli, which are folk-art designs often drawn outside homes on the ground by women using different-colored rice powders. Murphy said reds, yellows and oranges are traditionally used because they are warmer colors.

"It's a very geometric art presentation, where the pattern repeats itself," Sharma said. Sometimes the spaces in the designs are filled in with rice, beans and grains, Murphy said, to represent the harvest.

The sixth graders at Redwood Middle School study India, China, Rome, Greece and ancient civilizations this year, so the presentation naturally tied into their social studies curriculum.

Sixth-grade core teacher Norm Havercroft said he hoped his students learned tolerance and acceptance by getting a taste of walking in the shoes of people from a different culture, especially because Saratoga is such a multicultural community.

"It makes it real for them," Havercroft said. "It's a lot better than me just talking to them."

Saratoga parent Pragati Grover, whose son is in sixth grade at Redwood, said for many of the students this was their first exposure to the Indian holiday. She wanted to help second-generation Indian children feel comfortable and proud of their culture rather than embarrassed.

"We send out cards to our friends and family like you send out Christmas cards," Grover said, relating American and Indian cultures.

Grover added that it was important for the students to gain an appreciation and an understanding for their peers and the society in which they live.

Redwood Principal Beth Polito echoed Grover's thoughts, adding that she hoped the presentation dispelled assumptions and stereotypes while giving the students a better realization of cultural diversity.

"This is a prime example of the rich culture in this community that the students are getting exposed to," said Josh Marks, a sixth-grade core teacher at Redwood.