The UW Indian Students’ Organization, MILAAP, invites UW students to immerse themselves in Indian culture through the celebration of the festival of lights or Diwali night.
MILAAP celebrates Diwali night Saturday, Nov. 4 from 5 to 11 p.m.
“Diwali night, as we celebrate here, in the University of Wyoming, it’s an occasion where all Indians can come together, feel at home, celebrate feel being with family away from home,” president of MILAAP, Manish Bengani said. “Also, it’s an opportunity to make people know what India is, what Indian culture is, what Indian science and technology are. It’s an introduction, or re-emphasizing of importance of India on the world map.”
Friday, during weekly coffee hour, international students at UW are invited to visit a pre-event.
“We will have Indian snacks. We will have girls from MILAAP, who will draw the tattoos with henna on the hands of guests. We plan to sing some songs, and set a photo-booth,” Bengani said. “And, of course, we will talk to our international friends. We will take an opportunity to have a discussion of what India means to them.”
Five to 6:30 p.m. Saturday guests will have a chance to view a culture show including a lecture on the culture of India Arts & Science auditorium.
“During the show we usually have a set of cultural performances. We have an authentic Indian dance. We have a fashion show, where people could see the variety of traditional Indian costumes,” graduate student from India, Vivek Jain, said. “Also, there are people, who will sing some typical Bollywood songs. So, we just try to portray what India is.”
Following the lecture and performance portion a variety of Indian food will be served followed by a Bollywood party at the Union Ballroom and Senate Chamber from 7 to 11 p.m.
“For the dinner we get the food from good Indian restaurant down in Denver, or somewhere nearby,” Jain said. “We just have good time with people, serving them food, and having fun.”
Bengani said, “The dinner will be followed by the dancing party with the Bollywood DJ, which will be playing songs. He will be mixing different types of songs, that we have in India, from folk songs to the most popular Bollywood music.”
The Diwali festival is the biggest festival in India. It is a religious celebration, and is meant to solemnize the victory of light over darkness, good over evil and hope over despair.
Originally, it is celebrated over five days, during which people visit relatives and friends, share food, go shopping, pray and burn fireworks.
“During the festival we worship goddesses Lakshmi, the goddesses of wealth, so she brings health and happiness to people’s families,” Bengani said. “It’s a festival of light. We try to light up our houses with a lot of lightings, such as diyas, special oil lamps. We pretty much decorate all the houses with these lamps.”
