With song and dance taking centre stage during the opening night of the 38th edition of the Divali Nagar on Saturday, president of the National Council of Indian Culture (NCIC) Surujdeo Mangaroo said the annual event showed that culture went beyond the sphere of entertainment, and functioned as a space for education, inspiration and transformation.

Calling on stakeholders to recognise the Divali Nagar as “a national institute of cultural and moral development”, he added that not just attendance, but tangible support was needed.

CEREMONIAL LIGHTS: Members of the Shiva Gana Organisation perform the ceremonial aarti (waving of lights) to the Hindu goddess Lakshmi during Saturday’s Divali Nagar opening.