Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, to Celebrate Diwali With a Day of Indian Art, Music, Dance and Family Activities on November 1

BOSTON — The Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), Boston, will celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Lights, with a full day of Indian art, music, dance, storytelling, cultural demonstrations, and family-friendly activities on Sunday, November 1, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The special Diwali celebration, included with general museum admission, will bring together artists, performers, authors, cultural organizations, and community partners to showcase the richness and diversity of South Asian traditions. Admission is free for youths 18 and under.

Observed around the world by Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, and Jains, Diwali symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil. Lighting diyas, or traditional oil lamps, with family and friends is among the festival’s best-known traditions.

The MFA’s celebration will offer visitors an opportunity to experience the festival through performances, interactive art activities, gallery tours, demonstrations, and discussions exploring the cultural and historical significance of Diwali and the Ramayana, one of India’s most influential epic traditions.

Community Organizations Connect With Visitors

A community partnership program will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Shapiro Family Courtyard, giving visitors an opportunity to meet local organizations and learn about their work and services throughout Boston and Massachusetts.

Participating organizations include Color of India, Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence, Friends of Indian Senior Citizens Organization, and Saheli Boston.

The community gathering will highlight the contributions of organizations serving the region’s diverse communities and provide opportunities for visitors to connect with local resources.

Art Activities for Children and Families

Several hands-on activities will allow visitors of all ages to participate in traditional Indian art and crafts.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., visitors can make and decorate their own beeswax candles in the Shapiro Family Courtyard. The activity celebrates the festival’s association with light and the traditional practice of lighting diyas.

At the Druker Family Pavilion, visitors can create shadow puppets inspired by the Ramayana, the ancient Hindu epic that tells the story of Rama, Sita, and their journey.

From 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Pallavi Eswara, founder of Kona Arts, Crafts, and Education, will lead a rangoli design activity in the Linde Family Wing for Contemporary Art, Level 2. Participants can create rangoli patterns and bookmarks.

Rangoli is a traditional Indian art form in which intricate decorative designs are created using different materials, often incorporating geometric patterns, flowers, and other colorful motifs. Eswara, a Boston-area higher education professional, works to preserve and promote rangoli traditions through demonstrations and special events.

Indian Classical Dance and Music Take Center Stage

The performance program will feature several artists and groups representing different aspects of South Asian performing arts.

The Chhandika Dance Ensemble will present “Sita Haran: The Abduction of Sita” twice, from 11:30 a.m. to noon and 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. in the Shapiro Family Courtyard.

The performance will bring to life one of the dramatic episodes of the Ramayana through expressive movements, rhythmic footwork, gestures, and storytelling. The episode explores themes of courage, deceit, longing, and human complexity.

At 12:30 p.m., Berklee India Exchange will present Bhaangover, a band that combines Indian classical music and regional folk traditions with contemporary musical influences.

The performance will showcase the group’s fusion of traditional and modern sounds, reflecting the evolving landscape of Indian music.

From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., visitors can experience The Sounds of SubDrift, featuring poetry, music, dance, and storytelling by Subcontinental Drift (SubDrift) Boston, an inclusive creative community that emerged within Boston’s South Asian diaspora.

The program begins in Gallery 168 and includes a celebratory baraat procession, traditionally associated with Indian weddings, leading to additional performances in the Shapiro Family Courtyard.

Author Rajani LaRocca to Lead Storytelling and Discussion

The Diwali celebration will also feature Boston-area author Rajani LaRocca, a physician and Newbery Honor-winning writer who was born in India.

At 11 a.m., LaRocca will read from her new children’s book, “We Are the Light: A Story of Diwali” (Quill Tree Books, 2026), in the Riley Seminar Room. The storytelling session is recommended for children ages 3 to 10.

Later, from 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m., LaRocca will lead a discussion titled “Truth, Justice, and Wisdom: The ‘Ramayana’ and ‘Such Great Heights.'”

The discussion will explore her new novel, Such Great Heights (Quill Tree Books, 2026), and the role of the Ramayana in the story. Participants will consider the concepts of truth and belief in ancient epic traditions and contemporary society. The session is recommended for ages 10 and older.

Books will be available for purchase at the Linde Family Wing Bookstore and Shop.

Gallery Tours Explore Diwali Traditions and Indian Art

MFA guides will lead special gallery highlights featuring objects from the museum’s collection that have connections to Diwali stories and traditions.

Among the featured works is “Durga as Mahishasuramardini (the Slayer of the Buffalo Demon)” in Gallery 176, with tours scheduled at 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., 1:30 p.m., and 2 p.m.

In Gallery 183, visitors can explore “Man’s Court Sash (Patka)” during tours at 1 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Another featured work, “Ravana Shows Sita the Counterfeit Head of Rama—Ravana Visits Sita in the Asoka Grove,” will be discussed at 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., and 1:30 p.m.

The museum will also offer a special rangoli demonstration by Pallavi Eswara from noon to 12:30 p.m. in the Riley Seminar Room. Eswara will explain the history and cultural significance of rangoli and demonstrate how grids of dots and lines can be transformed into designs depicting flowers, lamps, and other shapes.

Talks Explore the Ramayana and Traditional Shadow Puppetry

The Ramayana will be a central theme in several educational programs throughout the day.

Laura Weinstein, Ananda Coomaraswamy Curator of South Asian and Islamic Art at the MFA, will lead a spotlight talk titled “Battle Royale” at noon and 2 p.m. in Gallery 183.

The talk will examine a remarkable series of paintings depicting the final battle in the Ramayana, a Sanskrit epic that has influenced artists across South Asia and beyond for centuries.

At 2 p.m., puppet practitioner Rahul Koonathara will present “Epic Shadows: The Kamba Ramayana in Tholpavakoothu” in the Riley Seminar Room.

Koonathara, a 12th-generation practitioner of the traditional shadow-puppetry art form of Kerala, India, is currently pursuing his doctorate at the University of Connecticut.

His presentation will explore how Tholpavakoothu, a temple-based shadow-puppet tradition, brings the Ramayana to life and maintains its cultural relevance in contemporary society.

Indian Desserts and Special Dining Menus

Visitors can also enjoy Indian desserts and special dining offerings during the celebration.

Beginning at noon, Boston-based Matki Kulfi Creamery will serve traditional kulfi, an Indian frozen dessert made using traditional processes and locally sourced dairy. The treats will be available for purchase at the Remis Auditorium entryway on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.

MFA dining venues will also offer special menu items in celebration of Diwali.

Accessibility and Visitor Information

The Diwali celebration will take place Sunday, November 1, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

The program is included with general museum admission, and visitors ages 18 and under receive free admission.

The museum is wheelchair accessible and will provide American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters for several designated performances, talks, demonstrations, and gallery tours.

Visitors requiring accessibility accommodations can contact the museum at access@mfa.org or 617-267-9300.

The museum advises visitors that all bags are subject to inspection. Backpacks, large bags, liquids, including hand sanitizer and sunscreen, and outside food and beverages are not permitted, except for medical or religious needs. Bags larger than 11 by 15 inches must be checked at the Coat Room.

With a combination of traditional Indian arts, contemporary performances, educational programs, community engagement, and family activities, the MFA’s Diwali celebration offers an opportunity for the Greater Boston community to experience the many cultural traditions associated with the Festival of Lights.

For the Indian American community, the event also provides an opportunity to share the richness of India’s artistic and cultural heritage with a broader audience while bringing families and communities together in the spirit of Diwali.