From November 3 to 10th, Vancouver celebrates Diwali: the five day festival of lights celebrated all around the world. The Vancouver Cebrates Diwali festival presents a mix of traditional and contemporary South Asian arts and artists culminating in Diwali Downtown, a day of free events on November 10th 3-8pm at the Roundhouse Community Centre.
Diwali Fusion Duos are a feature this year, cross collaborations working off the theme illumination. I spoke to kathak dancer Amika Kushwaha and musician (tabla drums & ghazal vocals) Cassius Khan, a married team who are collaborating with Akhil Jobanputra on harmonium.
Listen to Maegan, Arts Director, talk to Amika and Cassius: you’ll learn about their art forms, the celebration of Diwali and, the misconceptions and challenges of “world music” in Canada, which the couple contended with by creating their own Indian Classical Music Festival. You’ll also get some great stories about Cassius’ misadventures with Diwali fireworks.
Check out Cassius and Amika performing as a preview to the Nov 10th event: