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Manhattan's celebrations, now in their sixteenth year, are held several weeks before Diwali itself. Diwali, the Hindu festival of light, celebrates the triumph of good over evil, as represented by the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after slaying the demon Ravana and rescuing his wife, Sita. Two stages in lower Manhattan were filled with dancers and music reflecting customs from all over India. The outside festival is always held on the first Sunday in October before the weather worsens. This year's event coincided with another Hindu festival, Dusshera. Good get-together Much of the emphasis of the day was on children and the younger generation of Indian Americans. The second generation is... less concerned about India, and more about the USA, their adopted homeland Shashi Shah, Vice-president of the Association of Indians in America Eleven-year-old Shraya was part of an ensemble who performed a dance from northern India. "The four girls are the Gopis - women from the village - and the boy was Krishna - so we were worshipping him," she explains. Vishal, Preeta, Swati and JesManhattan's celebrations, now in their sixteenth year, are held several weeks before Diwali itself. Diwali, the Hindu festival of light, celebrates the triumph of good over evil, as represented by the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after slaying the demon Ravana and rescuing his wife, Sita. Two stages in lower Manhattan were filled with dancers and music reflecting customs from all over India. The outside festival is always held on the first Sunday in October before the weather worsens. This year's event coincided with another Hindu festival, Dusshera. Good get-together Much of the emphasis of the day was on children and the younger generation of Indian Americans. The second generation is... less concerned about India, and more about the USA, their adopted homeland Shashi Shah, Vice-president of the Association of Indians in America Eleven-year-old Shraya was part of an ensemble who performed a dance from northern India. "The four girls are the Gopis - women from the village - and the boy was Krishna - so we were worshipping him," she explains. Vishal, Preeta, Swati and JesManhattan's celebrations, now in their sixteenth year, are held several weeks before Diwali itself. Diwali, the Hindu festival of light, celebrates the triumph of good over evil, as represented by the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after slaying the demon Ravana and rescuing his wife, Sita.
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