Diwali Festival Lights Up New Jersey

Surati for Performing Arts in partnership with Art House Productions proudly presents the Lights 0f Diwali Festival. Geared towards educating the community about Indian culture and providing a platform for new and aspiring talent to showcase their art. This four days festival celebrates light over darkness and good over evil with three distinct events: four presentations of the musical Ramaavan at Art House Productions located at 262 17th St, Jersey City, NJ 07310; a Diwali Mela, Cultural Bazaar and Street Fair on 17th Street, between Coles St and Jersey Ave, Jersey City and Diwali Spectacular - an indoor party also at Art House Productions. For tickets and more information please visit www.suratifpa.org

Ramaavan is an original musical conceived choreographed and directed by Surati's Founder and Artistic Director Rimli Roy inspired by the Indian epic tale of love, courage, revenge, and righteousness, The Ramayana. Blending Indian classical and contemporary dance, folk, theater, drama, song, and opera - the show breaks from the traditional rendition of the myth of Prince Ram from India and King Ravan from Lanka to tell a story that transcends religious, political and ideological beliefs and adds new meaning to the spirit and story of Diwali. Ramaavan runs for four performances at Art House from October 24 - 26 at 7:30 pm and October 27 at noon. Tickets are $25.00 general admission, $20.00 students/seniors (with ID) and $15.00 for children 3-12 years old. For more information visit www.suratifpa.org. The festival is made possible by the generous support of Bira Beer, Xfinity, NJCU, City of NJ, Hudson County and the New Jersey Office of Cultural Affairs.

Diwali Mela, Ethnic Bazaar and Street Fair takes place on October 27 from 11:00am until 6:00pm on 17th Street, between Coles St and Jersey Ave, Jersey City. Bringing together some of New Jersey's finest Indian restaurants and businesses featuring interactive dance, music, rangoli, henna and more. A free and fun event for the whole family. For more information visit www.suratifpa.org

Diwali Spectacular Indoor Party is the culminating event of the four-day festival featuring delicious Indian dinner buffet spread, live entertainment, DJ, dance, fashion show, cash bar, special kids hang out room and more. Taking place at Art House Productions located at 262 17th St, Jersey City, NJ 07310, on October 27 at 6pm. Tickets range from $25.00 to $100 with special pricing for couples, children, youth, students/seniors and families of four. Dress Code: Bollywood and Creative Celebrity. For more information visit www.suratifpa.org

Surati for Performing Arts is an award-winning nonprofit arts organization that creates, produces and tours with it's traditional and eclectic stage shows and productions, musicals and festival celebrations that originate in Indian culture, but often have influences from around the world. Surati's artistic, arts-in-education and entertainment programming and festival outreach has touched thousands of lives nationally and internationally. Surati's Holi Hai 2018 festival attracted over 12,000 people from 22 U.S. states and 6 countries worldwide to Jersey City this Spring. Surati Founder and Artistic Director Ms. Rimli Roy has trained in three different Indian classical dance forms and directed and toured with the company for almost two decades. The Surati for Performing Arts company has performed at the United Nations, The Kennedy Center, The Lincoln Center, The Library of Congress, The Indian Consulate, The Alaska Performing Arts Center and also in India, Barbados and the U.S. Virgin Islands to name a few. For more information visit www.suratiinc.com

"This is possibly the most culturally relevant depiction of the Festival of Lights in the East Coast (maybe the U.S as a whole). I am particularly thrilled about our new version of the Ramaavan Musical that features artists of different genres from all around the world. As an artist, educator and community leader, I considered it important to have our diverse communities and particularly the next generation children watch this version of the story that transcends religious, political and caste system boundaries and beliefs. After all, education and enlightenment is the true spirit of this festival, the propagation of light over darkness."

- Rimli Roy (Founder & Artistic Director of Surati for Performing Arts)

Art House Productions: Through accessible, multi-disciplinary initiatives, Art House Productions produces high-quality visual and performing arts programs, provides arts-education programs for life-long learning, and celebrates the power of the arts to illuminate our common humanity. Since its inception in 2001, Art House has influenced the advancement of the arts community and acted as a pioneering force for the arts in Jersey City. In 2007, Art House was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and received a Key to the City for outstanding contributions to Jersey City. For more information visit www.arthouseproductions.org Art House Productions is located at 262 17th Street, Jersey City, NJ 07310. Wheelchair Accessible.

"We are thrilled to partner with Surati for Performing Arts on the Diwali Festival. We have long admired their contributions to the arts in Jersey City and we're excited by their new take on the Ramayana. This four-day festival has something for everyone!"
-Meredith Burns (Executive Director of Art House Productions)