Music and conversations filled the air as South Asian families gathered in the Upper School (US) Community Room for Knight of Lights, an event celebrating Diwali, the festival of lights. Moving in sync, three smiling Lower School students took center stage for a traditional dance — one of the three student-led performances.
2500 years ago, the return of Lord Rama after defeating the demon king Ravana marked a defining moment in Hinduism — the triumphant victory of good over evil. Today, much of South Asia celebrates Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, with family gatherings, fireworks, oil lamps and garba — a traditional dance.
At the annual Knight of Lights Diwali event on Oct. 24, 150 US students and parents gathered for classical dancing, henna and food. The South Asian Student Association (SASA) and South Asian Parent Association (SAPA) organized the event.
SAPA Co-Chairs Gargi Chakrabarty P ’29 and Anubha Sacheti P ’26 ’29 began planning the event in April.
“Diwali symbolizes the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance, which are universal values, and that’s why it’s such a defining festival for South Asia,” Ms. Chakrabarty said.
Knight of Lights was open to all community members.
“At BB&N, Diwali has become a vibrant tradition that values unity and community,” Ms. Chakrabarty said. “Each year, Knight of Lights offers a moment of shared experience and collective celebration that bridges backgrounds, generations and perspectives. All the families come together through the common thread of food, performance and dance.”
Ms. Sacheti said the event enabled Hindu families to share their culture.
“Dances lead up to the festival called garba, and everyone starts celebrating. It’s a time to showcase your closet and sashes, a time to get decked out in your culture. There are also so many cool dances that are fun and engaging, and it’s such a great way to expose people to our culture.”
The school’s willingness to showcase different traditions is key.
“I grew up in a place where there weren’t a lot of Indians, and I felt like I was caught between two worlds,” Ms. Sacheti said. “Amazingly, BB&N shares both of those places in one big identity, and they find pride in different cultures. It creates a bond with your school community.”
SASA Co-President Ayana Karthik ’26 welcomed attendees to Knight of Lights.
“It’s a time to gather with family and friends, and especially living in America, it can feel different celebrating Diwali because you are more isolated from it, but I am really grateful for the tight-knit Indian community I have at BB&N and what the Knight of Lights provides us with,” she said.
Nikhil Govindaswamy ’29 performed the sitar — a traditional Indian instrument — at the event.
“When I joined BB&N in sixth grade, it was great to know that my school has this community where I can share my family traditions,” he said. “BB&N’s Knight of Lights has helped me better understand my roots through the food and performances. It has also helped me get closer to others within the BB&N community, including from SASA.”
Rishaan Chowdhury ’29 said joining SASA has shaped his sense of community.
“SASA is a good way for South Asian students to bond, especially at such a big school like BB&N. On a day-to-day basis, I don’t see a lot of kids that look like me in all of my classes, so it’s nice to come together at SASA and feel connected.”
