The South Asian Students Association (SASA) hosted its annual Diwali celebration in Reynolds Club last Friday, November 15. Featuring a range of cultural performances, South Asian delicacies, and sparklers, the event brought together students from diverse backgrounds to celebrate one of South Asia’s most significant festivals, celebrating the triumph of good over evil.
This year’s celebration by SASA took place two weeks after the official Diwali date of October 31, due to scheduling conflicts, but the event’s popularity remained strong.
“With limited capacity in Hutch, we sold out quickly, 300 tickets over just four days,” Zarrin Ali, SASA’s membership committee director, said in an interview with the Maroon.
According to SASA co-president Srichi Dalai, the event required significant preparation and day-of management given its scale. “It’s non-stop work for the board, especially during the event, including serving food and handing out sparklers,” Srichi said.
The celebration also included cultural performances from SASA’s sister RSOs: fusion a cappella team Aag, classical dance group Apsara, folk dance teams Raas and Bhangra, and South Asian classical music RSO Classical. And, earlier in the week, SASA hosted a mehendi (henna) night to build excitement for the celebration. Proceeds from the event were donated to flood relief efforts in Bangladesh, adding a philanthropic element to the festivities.
SASA aimed to incorporate a diverse range of cultures at the event. “Our biggest goal this year is to ensure we’re incorporating all of South Asia and not just the eccentric focus,” Srichi said.
For many, the event held personal significance. “It was beautiful to see all the different South Asian dance and musical organizations come together to perform and showcase the vibrancy of our culture,” fourth-year Amulya Agrawal, who attended the celebration, said. “Celebrations like these help me feel a sense of community in college. I am sad that this was my last Diwali celebration on campus, but it was my most enjoyable one for sure.”
