MOLINE, Ill. — Local nonprofit Friends of India Association Quad Cities is inviting the public to celebrate Diwali on Saturday, Nov. 16 in Moline.
Diwali is also known as the Festival of Lights. It's one of the biggest holidays in India and marks the start of the country's fiscal year.
Locally, the celebration kicks off a 4 p.m. at Moline High School's Bartlett Performing Arts Center. It will last until 10 p.m., with food, activities, dances and cultural performances. It's all held in the spirit of unity and community.
Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for kids 5 to 12 years old. For FIAQC members, adult tickets will be $15 and $10 for kids. All kids under 5 are free.
The celebration will mark the end of Friends of India Quad Cities Week in Davenport, which officially runs from Nov. 11-15. The proclamation was set at the Nov. 6 Davenport City Council meeting.
FIAQC has been serving the Quad Cities for 48 years, with the mission to promote Indian culture and values. The group organizes several social, cultural, educational, professional and recreational events throughout the year.
"Our goal is to create a warm and welcoming platform for family and friends to come together, share their talents, and foster a vibrant Indo-American spirit here in the Quad Cities," FIAQC told News 8 in an email.
While Diwali is the group's largest event of the year, it's certainly not the only one. FIAQC also supports the Quad City Cricket League, local hunger drives, a backpack giveaway and blood drives.
Throughout the year, FIAQC also supports:
- Winter Events
- Welcome New Year event
- Table tennis competition
- Spring Events
- NSF competitions (spelling, math, geography bee)
- Summer Events
- College counseling and Indian Language School
- Summer picnic
- Indian Independence Day
- Fall Events
- Diwali celebration
You can learn more about the group through its website, or by emailing info@friendsofindia.com.
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