During the week of Nov. 13, St. Mark's celebrated Diwali during divisional chapel services. This Hindu festival of lights signified the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. Volunteers decorated the Chapel with bright colors, flowers and candles to set the mood for the week's services.
At Lower School Diwali Chapel, St. Mark's welcomed Raju Balan to perform on the mridangam. Playing this two-sided drum is a complex and nuanced art form, reflecting the diverse emotions and themes present in Indian classical music.
At Middle School Diwali Chapel, Dinesh Goel (grandfather of Shantiv ’24 and Anashay Monga ’22), chanted a traditional sutra from the Ramayana, a Hindu epic.
At Upper School Diwali Chapel, Guru Aroul ’27 and Shantiv Monga '24 chanted traditional prayers. World-renowned veena player Srini Prabhala from Hyderabad, India, performed "Tandanana," a popular song composed over 600 years ago.