Last year, University student Will Kancharla danced Dandia for the first time. This past Saturday, he handed out plastic sticks to other young men and women, eager to perform the traditional Indian dance at the annual Diwali Night, held in the EMU and hosted by the Students of the Indian Subcontinent (SIS). Diwali Night 2006 brought together more than 100 people of all ages and ethnicities to celebrate the “festival of lights,” an international and eagerly-awaited Indian festival.
After feasting on a traditional Indian meal of curries and naan and playing a rambunctious round of musical chairs, attendees began Dandia for beginners. Dandia, which originated in the Gujarat region of western India, loosely takes the form of a staged fight between a goddess and demon-king and marks the victory of good over evil.
The dance consisted of young women, some dressed in brightly-colored saris with sparkling jewelry dangling from their wrists and men in regular American clothes gathering in two lines facing each other, bending to form a circle. Each person held two sticks as swords and clacked them together, then against each other’s, before whirling between partners. It took a while for participants to get the routine down, but soon the music was barely audible over the clicking of sticks, confusion and laughter.
“It was embarrassing but fun,” Kancharla said.
Kancharla, who currently serves as an officer for SIS, said “growing up in Astoria, my first encounter with Indians was when I started school at the UO.”
“Because of my Indian heritage, I wanted to join and help out,” said student Achsah Jacob, who was born in India and raised in Portland. “Diwali Night reminds me of India. It’s a very homey environment. I love it.”
Diwali Night is not only a reason to celebrate, but also the perfect chance to learn more about a festival important to people both half a world away and right here in Eugene, SIS CO-director Bhavaya Sachdeva said.
Sachdeva said that over the last few years, an influx of Indians has moved into the area, making both the campus and city more diverse. Now the presence of Indians in Eugene is no longer limited to international students in study-abroad programs, but includes residents putting down roots. Events like Diwali Night, she said, are needed to promote cultural awareness and to unite a burgeoning community.
“There are a lot of distinctions in India – different traditions, different regions, different cultures, and we want SIS to reflect that diversity,” Sachdeva said.
Formed in 1999, SIS boasts members from India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives, Myanmar and Bhutan. The group will host its annual Utsav party in February to showcase cultural activities and herald the beginning of spring.