On Friday, November 10th, Transylvania’s Asian Student Alliance hosted an on-campus Diwali Event. Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights that celebrates the spiritual victory of good over evil and is widely celebrated in India, Malaysia, Pakistan, and many other countries. The campus event had an array of dishes served such as butter chicken, idli, samosas, and gulab jamun. The Asian Student Alliance’s vice president, Harmony Kothari, gave an informational presentation about the meanings and traditions of Diwali. Harmony further expressed how having an on-campus Diwali event is part of a larger push to promote diversity and help students gain knowledge of other cultures. Harmony expressed how, for her, Diwali meant spending time with her family. Back Circle was lit up by decorated candles and dozens of sparklers that were provided by the event. The attendees expressed very positive reviews of the Diwali event.
Many discussed how they loved the food and enjoyed getting educated about the traditions of Diwali. Overall, the Diwali event was a massive success. The event was a great way to learn about new cultural traditions as well as time to bond as a Transylvania community.
