Nandhini Rangan, president of the Indian Student’s Organization, talks about the Hindu holiday, Diwali, and how she and the group are celebrating it in America.
In a moment of silence, students and community members prayed to the gods before beginning their celebrations of Diwali, a Hindu holiday.
Diwali Bash 2010 was organized by the Indian Student Organization and funded by various groups, including the International Students Association. The event was held Sunday evening at the Spartan Village Community Center, 1460 Middlevale Road.
Although officially Diwali took place Nov. 5, the Indian Student Organization celebrated Diwali Bash 2010 on Sunday to enable students and community members to commemorate the holiday on their own, said Raghav Sundar, Indian Student Association treasurer and doctoral student.
Some attendees began the night with a puja, a Hindu prayer, said Nandhini Rangan, Indian Student Association president and first-year graduate student.
“In any Hindu festival, like Diwali, before we start any celebration we pray to our gods,” Rangan said. “We’re offering something to the gods, and we’re receiving blessings back.”
Diwali is celebrated for several reasons, but primarily for the victory of light over darkness, Sundar said. This victory is represented in a battle between two characters in the Ramayana, one of India’s great epics, Sundar said.
“One of the demon kings was slain by Rama, who is believed to be an incarnation of god,” Sundar said. “It is said Rama’s victory over the demon is the day we celebrate (the victory of) good over evil.”
The celebration also is known as the festival of lights because of the theme of light overcoming darkness, Rangan said. Rangan said, in India, Diwalioften is celebrated with fireworks.
“Even before the sun rises … the entire sky will be fully lit up with fireworks,” Rangan said.
Although the event did not feature any fireworks, Rangan said spiritual lightness was a focus of the event.
“It’s more (about) the inner light,” Rangan said. “When good triumphed over evil, there was light and goodness. … It’s basically the inner light that is shown in everyone.”
First-year graduate student Alisha Patel was among other attendees dressed in Indian clothing for the event.
“Generally with the weather, it’s not convenient (to dress in Indian clothing),” Patel said. “Since it’s one night and it’s the festival, it was worth being a little cold.”
Sundar said in India, families gather to celebrate Diwali. Sundar has not spent Diwali with his family since he first moved to the U.S. to attend MSU three years ago.
“I would be lying if I said I didn’t miss them during a big festival like this,” Sundar said. “When you come away from home to here, your friends are your family.”
For Patel, Diwali represents reconnecting with friends and family.
“For me it means connecting back with people and celebrating togetherness,” Patel said.
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