South Asian Student Association (SASA) hosted a night of food, music and dancing to celebrate Diwali in the Reilly Room on Nov. 9. The holiday is celebrated throughout India and other parts of South Asia as the “festival of lights” and a celebration of good over evil.
At Butler, the celebrations included a presentation by religious studies professor Chad Bauman, a dance by members of SASA as well as sparklers and fireworks on the front lawn of Phi Delta Theta.
Junior health sciences major Jasmine Kaur is the co-vice president of events of SASA and helped to organize the event. She spoke about how SASA translates the traditional celebration of Diwali into a collegiate setting.
“We usually get together with family and celebrate that way [for Diwali],” Kaur said. “This is the same thing; we’re celebrating with other students here.”
The event also served as an opportunity for education for students from other cultures to learn about Diwali.
Lele Harb, a first-year psychology and marketing double major, attended the Diwali celebration to learn more about the holiday.
“I went to the Diwali celebration to really learn and know more about other cultures, and it was a great environment to get to know people,” Harb said. “I didn’t know about Diwali, [but] I think learning about other cultures is one of the most important things you can do. It’ll [help] you understand and embrace other people, and that’s a life skill.”
The event organizers hope that the learning and curiosity from the Diwali celebration will continue for other cultural events across campus.
Junior biology major Aleena Ahmad is a co-vice president of SASA. Ahmad organized volunteers to help run the event and the Butler Cultural Requirement credit for those who attended.
“I think it’s critical for people [to] get out of the familiarity bubble they’re in in this culture and learn more about other people’s cultures, faiths and traditions,” Ahmad said. “In reality, you have to interact with these cultures, so [by coming to these events] you end up learning and making friends and finding connections through cultural events like Diwali. Out of all the hopes for the Diwali event, it’s that it opens a gateway to more interest [in] the Diversity Center and the different organizations we have to offer.”