Spring Break
Indian Student Association celebrates 'festival of lights'
Whitney Tallarico
Issue date: 11/18/08 Section: News
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Guests were welcomed with the distinctive scent of curry and spices, as colorful Christmas lights and spotlights colored various parts of the ballroom.
About 10 audience members arrived with their traditional Indian clothing to celebrate.
Diwali, or the festival of lights, is similar to the American Christmas, professor of mechanical engineering and Indian Student Association adviser Arum Shukla said. Shukla has been the adviser to the association since 1981.
"Like Christmas, it is religious, but it is celebrated by everyone in India," he said.
When people walked into the ballroom, they were immediately immersed in the celebration and its colorful lights and Indian music. The Indian dinner was saved for after the dance and musical performances, but there was an appetizer. Aloo Tikki, was available before the show started and served with traditional sauces.
The dish is made with potato, flour and several spices. Indian music played over loudspeakers, and there were lights set up on the stage. Also on the stage was an arrangement of drapes framing the Hindu symbol of the ohm. "Ohm" is the word repeated during Hindu meditation that is believed to have brought about the creation of the universe and embodies the three main Hindu gods, according to Hindu doctrine.
In front of the stage there was a small table with incense, pictures of Hindu gods and two candlesticks that were lit at the beginning of the ceremony.
Vice President of Student Affairs Thomas Dougan started off the events with a speech thanking the Indian Student Association for its work and effort, as well as the people who came to support and participate in the Diwali Celebration.
