001Hello Ashlanders. Welcome to Ashlin Indians Festival of Lights 2025 edition. This is the uh sixth year of this tradition. We've started this tradition back in 2019. Um we welcome you all warmly. Um we're truly blessed to live in this community where diversity, equity, and inclusion are not just punchlines but guiding principles. A mantra that keeps Ashland shining. Round of applause for ourselves. Thank you. Now, while the festival of lights, this festival of lights has a Indian flavor, the message is quite universal. Uh it's victory of good over evil, light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance that is as meaningful as someone here in Pleasant Street, Ashland as it is for someone in Marine Drive, Mumbai. Um today's agenda is going to be short and sweet. Um we're going to have a few classical performances and
002then we'll wrap up with lighting up the dance floor with some dandia tunes and um danda sticks. Right. But before we kick off, I would like to invite Mike, our town manager, to come and say a few words. Thank you. >> A thank you so much and a pleasure to be here this year as it is every year. Um my name is Michael Herbert. I am uh the town manager and on behalf of the town of Ashland and uh the Ashland Select Board. Uh I'm really like I said I'm really really pleased to be here. Um as was said this is the sixth year of this celebration. Um you know we started it just to prime ourselves to for co you know the next year. Um but this has this celebration has endured um and
003thrived uh through each year not because of the support of the town but through the support of you and and what you bring not just today but every day into our community. Um, Dewali as as the celebration of lights and the festival of lights uh really really signify what we try to be here in the town of Ashland, which is a light a light for the rest of the state, hopefully a light for the country and how we can incorporate and welcome everybody as part of our community. Um, this community is so rich in its heritage and Oh yes, you give an applause. A lot of you. Um, this community is so rich in its heritage in terms of being a place where people from different cultures can come in and become part of the
004community. Be the community. Not just be a part of the community, but be the community. And so today is just a celebration really of of that continuing quality that that we try to be. So, um, you said keep it short and sweet. It's not my, uh, not my style usually, but >> performance, >> but we do have some performances which are are are a heck of a lot better than listening to me speak. So, again, I want to welcome you all. I want to thank you for today's celebration. And again, thank you for everything you bring to town. And uh yes, let the celebration begin. >> All right, thank you everyone. Uh we're going to start the festivities. So first up we have Shri Nidi Nawaduri. She's a sophomore from Westbro High School. Shinedi has
005been learning the Vina under the tutilage of Guru Dura Krishnan for past nine years. A journey that has earned her several awards in various music competitions. This evening, Shinidi will enchant us with her melodious performance, blending skill, tradition, and heartfelt devotion. Please give a round of applause for Shini. [Music] hey [Laughter] [Music] hey feel Heat. Heat. [Music] down. My heart [Music] Yeah, [Music] you [Music] be you feel [Music] [Laughter] [Music] I need [Music] I [Music] be bing. [Music] behoo. [Music] Hey [Laughter] [Music] [Laughter] [Music] Hey, [Music] hey, hey. Hey, [Music] hey, hey. [Music] down. [Music] Boo. Oh, [Music] hey. [Music] Daddy [Music] behind [Music] be [Music] good. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Baby doo doo doo doo. [Music] There. [Music] Next up, we're going to present two captivating pieces of timeless tradition of Bhat Natam. First
006up is Malahari, a traditional Indian ritual music composition performed during a temple deities grand procession. It forms the very foundation of Narita in Bharat Natam showcasing pure dance expression without a story line just rhythm grace and geometry in motion. Joining us on stage are Amriita a promising fifth grader and Krisha a bright junior from Ashlin High School. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. N. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. N. [Music] Heat. Heat. N. [Music] Yeah. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. hand. My hand Heat. Heat. N. Hey, [Music] hey, hey. [Music] Hey, [Music] hey, hey. [Music] [Applause] Daddy [Music] Heat.
007Heat. [Music] believe. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Yeah. [Music] Heat. [Music] me. I love you. Yeah. Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Oh, [Music] hey. Nobody Dana [Music] deck. [Music] Daddy [Music] up. Johnny. [Music] Hey. [Music] Hey. [Music] I don't [Music] for everybody. [Music] My [Music] Everybody [Music] I gotcha. Heat. Heat. [Music] Daddy [Music] daddy daddy. Speech. Speech. Speech. [Music]