On Friday, November 14, the South Asian Students Association (SASA) hosted its annual Diwali celebration in Hutchinson Commons. Starting at 6 in the evening and ending a few minutes before 9, a $12 ticket gave attendees access to a catered dinner and five 10-minute performances from SASA sister organizations I’s Dotted, T’s Veshed, UChicago Bhangra (UCB), UChicago Aag, UChicago Raas, and Apsara.
As one of SASA’s two major show events each year, the sold-out celebration saw the majority of its crowd dressed appropriately for the occasion. Students in kurtas and salwars drifted about and mingled, eating a variety of Indian foods and excitedly chatting in groups. Laughter and conversations flowed freely (perhaps a bit too well—many unknowingly cursed their academic careers by stepping on the Reynolds Club seal, preoccupied with conversation) as people compared outfits and the contents of their plates. Before long, the crowd fell silent and the chatter gave way to the first musical performance of the night.
I’s Dotted, T’s Veshed, a six-person musical ensemble, took the stage with gravitas. The three vocalists passed a microphone between themselves and were later joined by a guitarist and two percussionists at their wings. Playing a medley of classical South Asian rock and jazz music, the singers switched between smooth, melodious verses and a rhythmically impressive start-and-stop caesura act. Each member performed solos, and, to much applause, the ensemble provided a harmonious introduction to the event.
19-membered UCB was up next, and the crowd was giddily prepared. Bhangra, an energetic harvest-celebrating dance originating in Punjab, has become a globally popular art form through the Punjabi diaspora. UCB’s barefoot dancers, wearing yellow, blue, green, purple, and red vests, spiked the energy in the hall to what would be its peak throughout the entire night. They made use of the entire stage with kicks, jumps, and running body bends, with many dancers showing off excellent vertical jump heights. The fan-favorite performance created a consistent buzz in the audience throughout its runtime, drawing loud hoots from the most engaged fans and a minimum of smiles from all.
In a whirlwind of harmony, Aag, UChicago’s South Asian fusion a cappella group, proceeded with a calmer, more melodic act. Singing a medley that included a few pretty English refrains (“No, I don’t wanna fall in love / This world is only gonna break your heart” from Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game,” and “Darling, darling, stand by me” from Ben E. King, via Shafqat Amanat Ali and songwriting duo Vishal–Shekhar’s “Dildaara”), Aag mixed diverse cultural influences and melodies seamlessly. Rotating center-stage voices floated over a rich choral blend that arose from the sides.
UChicago Raas, the second dance act of the night, was a group of five determined to match the energy of Bhangra. Performing Dandiya Raas, a folk dance originating in Gujarat performed with sticks (dandiya), Raas wore ornate kediya and chaniya choli colored black with highlights of silver and red, drawing circles on the stage with their bodies and sticks. As the backing track transitioned from Rosé’s “APT.” chorus to “Ainvayi Ainvayi,” a song from the Bollywood film Band Baaja Baaraat, the dancers traded their dandiya for handheld drums. Throughout the performance, UChicago Raas had fluid body control in the air and an unceasing high tempo and pace.
Apsara concluded the night’s performances with an all-female classical dance set. Wearing red and white kurtis, Apsara upheld the joyous expressions of Bhangra and Raas while dancing a much more classical style distinguished by intricate angular poses in the upper body and complex, coordinated footwork in the lower. The performers wore bell anklets that tinkled upon every step which, when combined with the thud of forceful foot stomps, created a distinctive bass and rhythm line.
After the performances, SASA board members holding aluminum foil trays full of sparklers corralled exiting showgoers outside. That the celebration occurred more than three weeks after Diwali didn’t dampen the atmosphere: hundreds of coruscating sticks, hundreds of smiles, and a convivial mood lit up a nighttime Hutchinson Courtyard with the spirit of Diwali.
The five sister RSOs will also perform at the annual SASA Show in spring 2026.
