Bushey House Beaumont Celebrates Diwali with an Afternoon of Colour, Culture and Dance

Residents and staff at Barchester’s Bushey House Beaumont Care Home in Bushey came together for an afternoon of colour, music, dancing and delicious food as they celebrated Diwali, the Festival of Lights.

The dining room was decorated with traditional coloured powders and candles, creating a colourful and welcoming setting for the celebrations.

The afternoon began with a documentary exploring the history and meaning of Diwali, highlighting how many different faiths share similar values, including kindness, happiness, compassion and togetherness.

One of the highlights of the afternoon was a presentation by Varsha, a member of the Bushey House Beaumont team, who spoke about what Diwali means to her personally and how it is celebrated in her home state of Kerala, in southern India.

Varsha then delighted residents and colleagues with a beautiful traditional Indian dance before introducing fellow team members from other regions of India. They shared their own experiences and explained how the festival is known by different names and celebrated in different ways across the country.

Residents were also treated to further dancing by members of the team, while the home’s talented kitchen staff prepared a delicious selection of traditional Indian treats for everyone to sample.

Mary Jane Bague, General Manager at Bushey House Beaumont, said:
“We are very fortunate to have such a wonderfully diverse team here at Bushey House Beaumont, and it is so lovely when colleagues share their cultures and traditions with our residents.

“Varsha and her colleagues put so much thought and effort into making the afternoon special. Our residents thoroughly enjoyed the dancing, learning about the different traditions and, of course, tasting the delicious food!

“Celebrations like these are about so much more than having fun. They bring people together, encourage understanding and remind us that, whatever our backgrounds or beliefs, we have so much in common. It was a truly joyful afternoon.”