PHOTOS: Diwali Lanterns Hung in Anandapur Theater District at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

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PHOTOS: Diwali Lanterns Hung in Anandapur Theater District at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Today marks the start of Diwali! To celebrate, the residents of Anandapur have hung more than 50 festive lanterns in the theater district. Disney Imagineer Zach Riddley shared a few photos of the lanterns via his Instagram account.

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Photo Credit: @thezachriddley on Instagram

From Imagineer Zach Riddley:

In celebration of Diwali, guests at Disney’s Animal Kingdom will discover that the residents of Anandapur have decorated the theater district with lanterns and marigold flowers to illuminate this space for the special season. 
 
More than 50 lanterns of various colors, shapes and sizes are all lit with warm lights to create a beautiful plethora of colors. To bring these designs to life, the Holiday Services team deconstructed the traditional embroidered cotton lanterns and recreated them with nylon material, which allows for an extended lifespan and helps retain their vivid color in the Florida climate. To hang these lights and lanterns, solid teak poles were hand-carved in Indonesia with lovely Balinese patterns, a tradition that dates back to the park’s original design. 
 
These lanterns are hung in celebration of Diwali, but remain in place through the new year so that guests traveling to the theme park can experience this beautiful tradition.

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Photo Credit: @thezachriddley on Instagram
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Photo Credit: @thezachriddley on Instagram

Diwali, the Indian festival of lights, usually lasts five days, and the lanterns will be in place through the new year. Last year, the lanterns were hung outside the “UP! A Great Bird Adventure” theater. The Anandapur theater district is normally home to Bollywood performers. With massive entertainment cuts in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Diwali lanterns are the only festive touch to the area for now.

Here’s a look at some of the Bollywood performers in action in March 2019:

Will you be heading to Disney’s Animal Kingdom to check out the Diwali lanterns? Use the comment feature to share your plans.