Diwali, also known as the ‘festival of lights’ is celebrated through the month of November and beyond and is widely observed among more than a billion people from a variety of faiths across India and its diaspora. Diwali originated on the Indian subcontinent and transcends religious and cultural lines in symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair. For some, Diwali is also the beginning of a new year.
This is a time for the community to come together in prayer, charitable giving, fellowship and feasting, family gatherings and lighting candles or clay oil lamps called “diyas”.
Curated Diwali MarketplaceDate: November 25, 2023
Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Admission: FREE
On Saturday November 25, 2023, for the first time ever, the stunning Ken Selling Waterloo Region Museum will be transformed into a bespoke Diwali Marketplace. With your FREE ADMISSION for the day from 10am to 3pm, this multi-sensory celebration promises to mesmerize guests with an ambiance fit for Diwali celebrations along with the finest vendors just in time for all your holiday and Diwali shopping! Shop the carefully curated vendors in jewelry, fashion, home decor, food, signature teas, wellness products and more. Of course this Diwali celebration won’t be complete without a kids corner with treats and crafts, a photo booth, melodic Bollywood hits and entertaining Bollywood performances!
Special surprise workshops - TO BE ANNOUNCED, STAY TUNED!
Saree Draping Workshop
Join us on Saturday November 25th for an Immersive and intuitive ‘saree draping’ workshop experience with the viral drape queen herself, Natasha Thasan. Natasha, also known as the ‘saree architect’ will host an exclusive saree draping workshop that has her over half a million followers on tiktok waiting for next videos anxiously daily and we are bringing her to the Bespoke Diwali Market for a live interactive demo to the soundtracks of your favourite Bollywood hits!
Her designs take inspiration from traditional drapes from her Tamil background to modern day fashion.
A Musical Evening with Ashwyn Singh
Date: November 26, 2023
Time: 6pm to 7pm (cocktail reception) 7pm to 8:30pm (event)
Admission: Ticketed - registration required
On Sunday November 26, 2023, Ashwyn Singh lights up the Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum with a musical and comedy showcase. Ashwyn's Desi Translations series has racked up 6M+ views on Instagram and TikTok, and he has been making waves in the Canadian comedy scene, earning a spotlight at the prestigious Winnipeg Comedy Festival gala and CBC's hit show "The Debaters." Fresh off his SOLD OUT Indian and Canadian tours, Ashwyn Singh is returning to Waterloo Region for one night only for an exclusive VIP performance where he takes the audience through his personal playlist. Celebrate Diwali with us in this Bollywood singalong with one of Canada's best that will leave audiences chanting encore!
This cocktail reception event is a ‘dress to impress’ themed lounge style event.
With your ticket purchase, guests will enjoy the finest in wine and cheese samples by KWs finest caterers.
Tickets ON SALE NOW
*Disclaimer* - they will go fast!
Get your tickets!
Ashwyn Singh
Ashwyn Singh is an Indian-immigrant-turned-standup-comedian, and he's been delivering side-splitting comedy ever since the PR card came in the mail. Ashwyn has toured across India and Canada, opening for acclaimed acts such as Mark Normand, Bassem Youssef, Atul Khatri and Zarna Garg.
With a unique ability to seamlessly weave humor into thought-provoking social commentary, Ashwyn's comedy covers a wide range of topics: immigration, free speech, Indian culture, family dynamics, and the hilarious trials of dating in Canada.
Event Curator
Iman Grewal (she/her)
Is a passionate multi-hyphenate. She is an Artist, Curator, Entrepreneur, Wellness Expert and an award winning Mental Health Advocate. When she's not pursuing art projects, Iman works full-time as an Educator within the leading mental health organization, the Canadian Mental Health Association. In 2022, Iman was presented with the 'We Are More Award'. This award recognizes and celebrates individuals for demonstrating exceptional commitment to contributions made in the greater community for the enhancement and awareness of Mental Health initiatives.
A highly sought after Curator with a talent for visual storytelling as her artistic medium, Iman's tenacious drive has led her to carve out a decade-long career in the arts sector both locally and globally. While pursuing an independent art career, Iman quickly caught the eye of the largest contemporary arts festival, Nuit Blanche Toronto which led to a five year Project Manager position before moving on to curating events and art installations for the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). With a passion to raise unheard voices in her community, Iman was hand picked and offered the first ever South Asian Film Programmer role at Toronto International Film Festival by now TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey. In this role, Iman programmed films and informative community talks on issues and causes closest to her heart. With a focus on her own South Asian community, Iman has led groundbreaking programming on topics such as LGBTQ+ rights, women's rights, mental health and domestic violence.
At its core, Iman has pushed for art to be experienced as a story that can create authentic, human shared connections where people can feel like they're part of something and feel what we all yearn to feel, seen and heard.