Festival of Lights
| Staff Writer
Schweta Khanna and other Indian Student Association members perform a dance during the Diwali Night celebration in Ransburg Auditorium on Nov. 12. Diwali is a traditional Indian festival, lasting five days and celebrating family and friends. The ISA sponsors Diwali Night every year commemorating Indian heritage through traditional dance, authentic food and ornate clothing.
By Haley Vannarsdall
The University of Indianapolis celebrated Diwali, a traditional Indian five-day festival in which each day represents a different array of festivities.
The night began with dancing, singing and slide shows of North, South, East and West India in Ransburg Auditorium on Nov. 12. The Diwali Festival was produced by the Indian Student Association and contained not only Indian students, but faculty as well.
The much-anticipated fashion show displayed vibrant, distinctive Indian fashion. Ornate traditional Indian clothing could be seen not only on stage but also in the audience. Karen Childers, the UIndy recruitment coordinator, participated in the fashion show.
“I thought the Diwali Night was a wonderful celebration and I very much enjoyed learning about the Indian students’ culture,” Childers said, “I was honored that my daughter and I were asked to be a part of the celebration.”
According to the Society for the Confluence of Festivals in India Web site (diwalifestival.org), Diwali translates to “Festival of Lights” and fireworks can be seen non-stop throughout India day and night during the festival.
Perhaps the most celebrated day of the celebration is the third day, Diwali. Every house is spotlessly cleaned for Lakshmi, and lights are lit to help make a path for her arrival.
Diwali is a time in which there are no enemies and everyone is united as one. Family and friends are celebrated constantly. Ritesh Nirwal, a physical therapy graduate school student has experienced Diwali in India.
“You celebrate with your friends and family and cheer in the streets.” Nirwal said, “It’s really hard to miss someone you really love during Diwali.”
An Indian food dinner in Schwitzer Student Center followed the Diwali celebration. Assortments of authentic dishes were prepared, although the spices were cut back for those who couldn’t handle the heat.
Zeenia Irani and Shubhangi Saraj perform a dance during the Indian Student Association’s Diwali Night on Nov. 12 in Ransburg Auditorium. Diwali is a traditional Indian celebration of lights.
After dinner, many students took part in dancing and performed not only Indian dancing, but also a wide variety of moves.
