In combining celebrations for two of the most widely celebrated Hindu holidays, South Asian Students Association and the Bhav Bhakti Hindu Society are collaborating for a full night of festivities this Friday evening, from 6 to 10:30 p.m.
Last Tuesday was Diwali, a festival of lights and beginning of a new year for Hindu students, who spent the day wishing one another prosperity in the coming year.
This Friday, the University community is invited to a religious ceremony, or puja, to commemorate the holiday. The puja will be conducted from 6 to 7 p.m. and will honor Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, and Ganesha, the remover of obstacles.
A priest will be coming from a temple on the North Side to conduct the traditional ceremony. People may attend free of charge, though donations will be collected to benefit the victims of the bombs in Delhi.
A full Indian dinner will be served for $3 from 7 to 8 p.m.
The night will culminate in traditional and modern dances. There will also be instruction of the garba-raas, a traditional form of Indian dancing with sticks that is unique to celebration for the festival of Navratri. A dance with modern bhangra music will follow.