Hindu holiday unites community and visitors from across Connecticut

CT State Community College Middlesex hosted a Diwali holiday celebration on November 7 at noon in collaboration with the Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Temple and the city of Middletown. The event took place in Chapman Hall on the Middletown campus.

“Celebrating here, with our community partners, is a powerful reminder of how far we’ve come, and how much light we can continue to spread together,” said Nutan Mishra, Ph.D., Middlesex professor and coordinator of the event.

Guest speaker Rajeev Pahuja of Hamden, Conn., has advocated since 2008 for the Hindu holiday to be recognized as a state holiday. In June 2025, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed SB 1519 into law, making Connecticut only the second state, after Pennsylvania, to include Diwali in statute. The law, passed unanimously by the legislature, helps ensure religious accommodations for Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs and Jains observing the holiday.

“This year’s holiday is especially meaningful as we bring together our shared inclusive values and the cultural heritage of the state,” said Pahuja, who received a multimedia certificate from Middlesex in 2017. “Diwali is a time for us to serve others and build each other up.”

The celebration, also known as the Festival of Lights, featured the lighting of the lamp, the city of Middletown proclamation recognizing Diwali, authentic cuisine from Haveli India restaurant, and performances of Bharatnatyam and Bhangra dances.

Sreekanth Nelakudity, president of the Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Temple, joined Pahuja and CT State Middlesex Campus President Joshua Moon-Johnson, Ed.D., to welcome attendees and share insights into the meaning and traditions of Diwali.

“Diwali is a time to connect people together and strengthen the bond that makes our community special,” said Nelakudity.

Jocelyn Martin, a CT State Manchester criminal justice student, traveled from the Hebron, Conn., area to the Middlesex campus to learn about the holiday.

“It’s interesting to know more about different cultures and learn about different practices and religions,” said Martin. “I wasn’t really aware of the holiday until I saw the event listed online.”

Newly elected Middletown mayor, Gene Nocera, also attended, along with Maria Scarlett from Middletown’s Anti-Racism Task Force and Chief of Police Erik Costa.

“Diwali has me reflecting on the beauty we see in the people, culture and wisdom here to help one another,” added Mayor Nocera. “We need our friends to light up the world for ourselves.”

State representatives Hilda Santiago (Meriden) and Savet Constantine (Wilton) also joined in the celebration.

“A partnership like this is what it’s all about,” said President Moon-Johnson. “We’re learning to understand what it means to be a community as we begin building a wonderful relationship to help transform Middletown and Middlesex County.”

Founded in 1979, the Connecticut Valley Hindu Temple Society supports the religious, cultural and social needs of the Indian community across Connecticut and the Northeast. Its Sri Satyanarayana Temple, located at 11 Training Hill Road, Middletown, is built in traditional style to serve worshipers from many Hindu sects. The temple society also supports annual student scholarships awarded through the Middlesex Community College Foundation.

Following the merger of the 12 Connecticut community colleges in 2023, CT State Community College is the largest community college in the Northeast and fourth largest open admission public two-year college in the country, serving close to 70,000 students annually. CT State offers accessible, high-quality education across its locations in Bridgeport, Bristol, Danbury, Danielson, Enfield, Farmington, Hartford, Manchester, Meriden, Middletown, New Haven, North Haven, Norwalk, Norwich, Waterbury, Willimantic and Winsted. The college office is located in New Britain. Visit ctstate.edu for more information.