(Photo courtesy of UML South Asian Student Association) “Two members of SASA show off their diyas.”

Sameera Jangala

Connector Contributor

As we don our costumes and trick-or-treat this Halloween, members of the Hindu community will be celebrating Diwali, the festival of lights. Diwali is a time spent with loved ones, honoring the triumph of good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and light over darkness. Celebrations typically consist of vibrant firework displays, gatherings with family and friends, forms of prayer referred to as pujas, and endless arrays of traditional Indian dishes and sweets. It is also a tradition to decorate the house with rangolis, flowery drawings, and designs done with colorful powder, diyas, and small oil lamps meticulously painted and lit with burning flames. In recognition of the dawning holiday, UML’s South Asian Student Association (SASA) hosted a Diya Painting event this past Tuesday At Cumnock Hall.

Students were able to ring in the festival season and paint diyas while listening to Bollywood music, enjoying sweets, and socializing with other attendees. As many students are to return home for the holiday, it was a great way to celebrate the spirit of Diwali with friends. Rahul Pingali, secretary of SASA, explained that his family doesn’t “celebrate the holiday in the most traditional sense” but instead uses the day as “a chance to catch up and spend time with people [they] care about.” He explained that this was a similar sentiment to what the EBoard envisioned for the event: a laid-back way to celebrate amongst friends filled with light, laughter, and love.

SASA also has planned two upcoming Henna Nights ahead of the festival: the first session on 10/28 from 5-7 PM in Fox Commons and the second on 10/29 from 5-7 PM in McGauveran Center. Henna is a dye, usually applied as a paste, used to craft intricate designs on the body. These designs usually stain reddish-brown and remain temporarily tattooed where applied, usually on the hands and feet. It is used for special occasions such as weddings and festivals–in this case, Diwali! These henna nights will serve as a fundraiser for upcoming events SASA has planned for this semester and the next.

This semester, SASA’s general body membership has nearly quadrupled from the past year. Students are more dedicated to and involved in the weekly meetings held every Tuesday, as well as the multiple events, such as Diya Painting. Navya Garg, SASA’s vice president, credits this to the sense of community that the EBoard has been able to build. She explained that this was the first year that SASA had turned to an election to vote for leadership positions rather than having them be assigned by current EBoard members. Both Garg and Pingali agreed that this allowed for a more diverse group of leaders, which in turn is reflected in their ability to connect with each other and their general body and showcase their different cultures through their meetings and events. 

“There’s an order to the club now,” says Garg. “People look forward to Tuesdays, and we will always be here. It’s nice to know that people are enjoying their time with us.”