On Oct. 17, 2025, the Kingswood Oxford community celebrated Diwali with an after-school event at the Community Commons. The celebration was a hit among students, faculty, and the greater KO community.
“I was thrilled with the event,” English teacher and MILAN affinity group advisor Heidi Hojnicki said. “I was so excited with how many people came and how they enjoyed it.” The event featured Indian food from a multitude of restaurants, displays of Indian culture, and henna artists.
Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, celebrates good over evil and the triumph of light over darkness. For people who celebrate, the holiday marks five days of festivities. Diwali marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year and usually occurs at the end of October or the beginning of November. Diwali was officially declared a state holiday on October 2, 2025, by Governor Ned Lamont, and KO students had the day off for the first time this year.
The Diwali event was co-planned by the leaders of the MILAN affinity group, Ms. Hojnicki, some KO Middle School students, and parents. They were assisted by Richard Mutts, Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging. The families helped cover a majority of the costs, with some funding provided by the DEIB team and partner restaurants.
The first Diwali event was hosted last year by a group of parents and students. However, this year, there was an overwhelming push to increase the length of the event, which led to the idea of an after-school event. They brought back the popular henna from last year. “We wanted to take the success of the Festival del Guiverno and replicate it with Diwali,” Ms. Hojnicki said.
Parents Devi Mathur P’26, P’29, and Manasi Lodha P’26 were key contributors, along with many other KO families, to turn the event from an idea to reality. The support from KO families, along with the MILAN group, was instrumental in the event’s success, as they helped set up, organize everything, and collaborate to make the event memorable.
Other events at KO amplified the event’s success. For example, the Hewett Day cross-country meet and the Dig Pink volleyball game that took place that evening on campus helped bring people to the Diwali event. Additionally, the Middle School Fall Festival took place immediately before the Diwali event, allowing Middle School students and their families to be included as well.
Logistically, the event was well supported. The henna artists were very popular among KO students and faculty. Students also enjoyed traditional Indian delicacies, including biryani, samosas, gulab jamun, and chai. Some students created rangolis, a colored pattern, using powder, while others decorated divas, which are oil lamps.
The Community Commons also played an important role. The event was hosted on the outdoor patio, and the new Commons contributed to the overall atmosphere. “The Community Commons definitely transformed it,” Ms. Hojnicki said. “The event was very community-driven.”
In the future, MILAN is potentially considering expanding celebrations to other Indian cultural events such as Holi. Ultimately, significant strides have been made in expanding cultural awareness and making it a priority for the community as a whole. We thank the organizers for facilitating this fantastic event and look forward to what the future holds.
