The diverse culture of Lake Havasu City was celebrated Saturday night.

Dr. Khamranie Persaud held a Diwali celebration Saturday night at the Shugrues Bridgeview room.

This is the sixth year that the Persaud family has hosted the event and more than 200 people joined the celebration.

“Diwali is spent with family. So the community comes together and celebrates. So we have people who are Indian, African, West Indian, Pakistani, Punjabi, Carribean and Shri Lankan,” Persaud said.

“People are Muslim, Christian and Hindu. Although the holiday itself is a religious one, I made it more of a cultural celebration spanning all cultures and religion, and invited both Indian and non Indians. So we have many Caucasians now as well.”

“It’s the Festival of Lights where we celebrate the triumph of good over evil by a display of lights and colors,” Persaud said.

Persaud also invited the Kriti Dance and Performing Arts Academy  from Chandler  to perform for the guests.

Diwali, historically, is a Hindu festival of lights, celebrated in the autumn in the northern hemisphere (spring in the southern hemisphere), according to historic sources.

Hinduism sites Diwali as one of the most festive celebrations and symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance.

The festival of Diwali is an official holiday in Fiji, Guyana, India, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago.

For more information on Kriti Dance, visit http://www.kritidance.com/

Lights glow on the steps of the Shugrue’s Bridgeview Room for the Diwali celebration. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Guests dance at the Diwali celebration. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Jillian Danielson/RiverScene