Pooja Iyer performs at Diwali Night 2008. The Indian Student Association sponsors the event. Lyer danced the Bharatanatyam style of dance.
One of India’s biggest, the ‘Festival of Light and Color’ combines the excitement and traditions of American holidays to celebrate light overcoming darkness.
For the Indian Student Association, Diwali Night is not just about celebrating a festive holiday from its members’ homeland.
It is about sharing thousands of years of Indian culture with those who might not know what it is about.
ISA shared traditional dances, songs and food along with some newer, popular trends on Friday and Saturday night.
The night began with the Saawan, a dance based on the movements of India’s national bird — the peacock, chosen to represent the country’s beauty, diversity and unity.
ISA tried to give a glimpse into the diverse yet unified nature of India over the course of the night by performing dances from all regions and eras of the country.
One highlight of the event was the performance of “Unity in Diversity,” a dance program that won first place at the recent OSU Cultural Night.
The dance takes thousands of years of Indian dance history and condenses it down to just a few short minutes.
Amit Bhansali, a mechanical engineering graduate student, has performed in Diwali Night.
Bhansali said he enjoys the cultural perspective the event provides.
“It’s very interesting to me,” he said. “We get to contrast all the things that our American and Indian cultures consist of.”
Some of Bhansali’s American friends accompanied him to the event, dressed in traditional Indian clothing.
One of these friends, OSU junior Janina Graves, said she has participated in Diwali Night dances but took this year to sit back and watch the show.
“It’s one of my favorite events during the year,” she said. “It’s weird not being a part of all the things that go on backstage, but I have really enjoyed it.”
Graves knew little of Indian culture before she came to OSU but was able to meet many different international students after joining the International Student Organization and eventually became a member of ISA.
Meredith Savage, a Spanish freshman, also accompanied Bhansali to the event.
Savage, who said she met Bhansali through her brother, was attending her first Diwali Night.
“I can really appreciate all the work that they put into this,” she said, “I think it’s one of the most well-run events at OSU.”
Savage said she plans on joining ISA in the future as well.
When the event was over, ISA members said they were pleased with their performance.
Sophomore Abhishek Dakhane, ISA secretary, was involved in multiple dances during both nights of the event.
Dakhane said the group has been practicing for about two months.
“We gave our best, and I think we really represented the Indian Student Association well,” Dakhane said.
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