Museum Exhibits for Diwali

Museums offer a chance to have meaningful human connection around displays, artifacts and paintings. Museums preserve the past and shape our stories. A single exhibit or program about Diwali can open hearts, minds, and conversations.

Talking about Diwali in museums promotes:

• Acknowledgment of the deep historical, religious, and cultural roots of the festival

• Highlights the contributions of Indian Americans in California’s diverse mosaic

• Creates immersive, joyful spaces where the wider public can engage with Indian art, food, music, and traditions

• Educates visitors on values of light over darkness, good over evil, and community celebration

What can you do?

Go through the museums website and contact individuals earlier than the month of Diwali (October/November), most museums have their schedules set months in advance. Provide them reasons to focus on exhibitions/displays or community events for Diwali. Volunteer to help them get attendees, local performers in order to promote their museum and raise awareness about Diwali.

• Engage local performers (Bharat Natyam, Kathak, Bhangra, etc...)

• Ask them to do a display promoting Indian art/artists (museums usually have a storage area where they store their paintings, artifacts, etc...)

• Contact your local temples, gurudwaras, etc...and have them attend the museum display (most museums are supported by grants and these grants are increased by the number of attendees). Keep count of the number of attendees for the India centric museum display and provide it to the museum/s.

• Create activity kids for kids or adults who come to the museum (rangoli, decorate a diya, etc..)