Mayor Lori Blong recently participated in the Diwali celebrations with the Indian community of Midland.
Blong said in a November 21 Facebook post that she was honored to join "so many other Midlanders who love to experience the culture, dancing and fabulous food of the celebration." She further mentioned that "[The Diwali Festival of Lights] brought people together to share traditions, stories, and community."
According to Britannica, Diwali is one of the major religious festivals in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism. It lasts for five days from the 13th day of the dark half of the lunar month Ashvina to the second day of the light half of the lunar month Karttika, which corresponds to late October and November in the Gregorian calendar. The term Diwali is derived from the Sanskrit word dipavali, meaning "row of lights," symbolizing the victory of light over darkness.
Blong concluded her post by expressing gratitude towards the Indian leadership of West Texas for inviting her to participate in Diwali festivities. "I'm grateful to have been part of such a special cultural evening," she said.