Diwali, one of the most popular Indian festivals, symbolizes the power of good and light over evil and darkness. It is also representative of beginning anew. Lamps, fireworks, and lights are often displayed during Diwali celebrations to symbolize this.
Although students can’t light fireworks at the University of Oregon, Students of the Indian Subcontinent (SIS) will host a Diwali celebration this Saturday, November 7th, in the LLC Performance Hall from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
“We want to invoke the spirit of new hope and new beginnings,” said Meghna Agarwal, co-director of SIS.
Agarwal hopes that the Diwali celebration on Saturday will bring in people from campus and the Eugene community, whether they have celebrated Diwali in the past or not, and raise awareness about Indian culture.
Diwali celebrations at the UO have attracted up to 200 people in the past. This year’s Diwali event will introduce a few new activities to the SIS Diwali celebration, including a sari tying station and the opportunity to try a sari on. (The sari is a garment about six yards long, traditionally worn by Indian women). There will also be demonstrations of the Garba dance, frequently performed during Diwali.
The celebration will be catered by Taste of India, who will provide food including samosas, a type of fried pastry filled with potato, and mango lassi, a yogurt-based beverage.
For Archana Sriram, SIS Director of External Affairs, the excitement of Diwali extends beyond the food and the dancing.
“Diwali’s really cool because you’re taking an inanimate object like light and it represents such a bigger idea,” Sriram said. “It’s being able to reflect on your past year and knowing what you want to change- what you want to continue. It’s a new start- a place to revaluate stuff about your life.”
Sriram emphasized that when she was younger some her favorite things about Diwali were the materialistic ones, like receiving money or new clothes. As she grew older, though, she recognized the festival for its symbolic value.
Sriram said the celebration also connects her to her roots and allows her to meet people from similar backgrounds as her.
The event is free and open to the public. The SIS groups also host other events throughout the year, including Bollywood movie nights, a culture night called Utsav, and an annual celebration of the spring festival Holi.
SIS to host Diwali celebration this Saturday
Anna Lieberman
November 4, 2015
0
More to Discover