Lauren Verkamp, 14, from left, Bailee Schwartz, 14, Priyal Sharma, 14, Suchi Bandaru, 14, Maggie Getzin, 17, and Olivia Yarbrough, 17, all of Jasper, danced during a party in celebration of Diwali at the Baymont Inn & Suites in Dale on Saturday. The festival of lights celebration, which is a major Hindu holiday, featured dinner for guests, dancing and fireworks. Sarah Ann Jump/The Herald
Suchi Bandaru of Jasper, 14, right, gave a speech about the meaning of Diwali as she held Merushi Shah of Jasper, 1. After the speech, Priyal Sharma of Jasper, 14, center, sang a song. Sarah Ann Jump/The Herald
Arjun Parameswaran, 2, left, his brother Tarun, 8, and Dharmi Shah, 3, all of Jasper, took turns saying "Happy Diwali" into the microphone. Sarah Ann Jump/The Herald
Ravikumar Bandaru of Jasper, center, encouraged guests to dance. Sarah Ann Jump/The Herald
Surrounded by sari-clad girls, Merushi Shah of Jasper, 1, hugged a balloon. Sarah Ann Jump/The Herald
Olivia Yarbrough, 17, left, Maggie Getzin, 17, and Suchi Bandaru, 14, all of Jasper, released a paper lantern. Sarah Ann Jump/The Herald
"This is awesome," exclaimed Arpita Singh of Jasper, 5, center, as she held a sparkler. Guests enjoyed dinner, dancing and fireworks. Sarah Ann Jump/The Herald
Arjun Parameswaran of Jasper, 2, held two sparklers with assistance from his mother Gomathi Naddarajan during a party in celebration of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, at the Baymont Inn & Suites in Dale on Saturday. Sarah Ann Jump/The Herald
Sonali Rathee, 9, left, and Tarun Parameswaran, 8, both of Jasper, watched fireworks overhead. Sarah Ann Jump/The Herald
Party-goers watched fireworks. Sarah Ann Jump/The Herald
Priyal Sharma, left, and Lauren Verkamp, both 14 and of Jasper, danced during the party. Sarah Ann Jump/The Herald
Try unlimited access for just $1.
Are you a Herald print subscriber? You get free, unlimited, access. Click here.