Students of the Indian Subcontinent will hold its third annual cultural night on Saturday. Similar to the Japan or China nights held earlier this year, the event will feature a dinner and entertainment.
But don’t call it “India Night,” because SIS includes participants from countries neighboring India and islands off its shore. The event is called UTSAV 2001, which comes from the Hindi word for “festival.” Previous UTSAVs have drawn between 400 and 500 people.
A dinner of traditional Indian food will be served in the first part of the evening. Many parents of the student participants will be coming to prepare the traditional dishes in order to give them a home-cooked flavor. Previous UTSAVs have hired caterers from local Indian restaurants.
“There is more to India than mild chicken curry,” said Aashim Tyagi, a pre-journalism major. Tyagi said he realizes that the extent of most people’s exposure to Indian culture is the food.
“There will be curry there,” he said, “but in our culture, a [whole] home-cooked meal is a symbol of love and respect.”
The sentiment is echoed by other members of SIS. Pre-business major Edwin Prasae said, “I enjoy my culture and want the campus to be enriched with the beauty of Indian culture.” With this event, the members of SIS hope to help the student body avoid seeing Indian people for just their race by understanding what makes them Indian.
Organizers said they also want students to have the time of their lives.
Entertainment will include a fashion show and various skits and dances, which include everything from traditional to classical. There will be a variety of craft booths as well, featuring henna painting, a jewelry sale and an art exhibition.
Non-Indian students are also playing an active role in the production of UTSAV. Nicole McFadden, an English major, wrote the script for a skit to be performed tomorrow. She said she developed an admiration for Indian culture through her best friend, who is originally from India.
McFadden’s skit portrays a somewhat culturally American, but Indian woman who attends the University. In the skit, her education is interrupted by a trip back to India to find a husband. The main goal of the skit is to reach out to both American and Indian cultures by comparing traditions anecdotally, McFadden said.
UTSAV 2001 will take place on Saturday in the EMU Ballroom. The dinner will begin at 5:30 p.m. and the performances at 8 p.m. Tickets are on sale now, and can be purchased at the EMU Ticket Office or at the door prior to the event. All tickets are $8.