DIWALI CELEBRATION AT STOTS, NAGPUR

The Festival of Diwali – one of the most important festival of India was celebrated at the St. Thomas
Orthodox Theological Seminary, Nagpur on October 19, 2017. The feast was celebrated in all its glory at
the Seminary Campus with the neighbouring villagers participating along with the Seminary students and
the staff members of the Prerana Special School. The traditional Diya was lit in hundreds of numbers all
around the Campus along with minimal number of fire crackers keeping in mind its cultural significance.
The prayers, songs and messages delivered on the festive evening served as an enriching experience for
the neighbours of the Seminary. The important underlying aspect of weeding out the inner darkness and
spreading the light of the joy of Christ was well highlighted. The Diwali celebration at the Seminary
indicates the sensitivity of the Orthodox Church to the local cultures and the approach of Inculturation.