The Indian Students Association of Tuscaloosa will host the Festival of Lights celebrating Diwali on Thursday, Oct. 16, in the Student Center Ballroom.
The event will feature vocal and dance performances, authentic Indian food and a 4-5 minute firework show at the Peter Bryce Preserve.
“We’re trying to make the events bigger, spread Indian culture with the rest of the UA community and meet new people,” said Ish Patel, a graduate student studying biochemistry and the president of ISAT.
According to Patel, the University’s version of the celebration is expected to host over 700 attendees. After advertising the event for just a week and a half, they were at over 500 tickets.
“We’re showing off the culture by showing different performances and our music, and you get to eat amazing Indian food and learn the meaning behind Diwali,” Patel said.
The festival’s history stems from multiple ancient Indian texts and the battle between good and evil. Common stories associated with Diwali include King Rama’s quest to rescue his wife Sita from an evil king and the goddess Kali’s defeat of the demon Raktabija.
“There were a lot of problems happening across the country, and we believe that this is the time when the goddess incarnated on the planet and she killed all the demons,” said Sampath Reddy, a graduate student studying biochemistry and the vice president of ISAT. “It was literally like coming out of the dark for the humans and entering the light phase.”
People commonly celebrate Diwali with fireworks and lighting lamps in their homes. The fireworks symbolize the joyful triumph over evil. It is believed that lighting lamps in honor of Diwali invites the goddess Lakshmi, who represents wealth and prosperity, into one’s home.
“Whenever you light a lamp, it’s like you’re replacing the dark with the light,” Reddy said. “That’s why we celebrate.”
The festival serves as an opportunity to engage with others not only within the University, but the Tuscaloosa community at large.
“Community is a big part,” said Karthik Gaur, a junior majoring in computer science and the undergraduate engagement officer of ISAT. “It’s a festival of celebration and togetherness.”
The public is encouraged to reserve free tickets for the event because of its growing demand and anticipation.
“There are people who’ve been to this event in previous years, and they literally wait for this event every year because it’s fun for them,” Reddy said.
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