by Emma Pettingill, Contributing Writer
Photos taken by Emma Pettingill
Diwali, the festival of lights, a major celebration in India, is also one of Susquehanna’s own Asian Cultural Association’s (ACA) biggest events that they hold during the school year. While Diwali is usually celebrated on November 4, this event was celebrated on November 7 in the Degenstein Benjamin Apple Meeting rooms from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The event featured a beautiful setup not only put together by the club itself, but from the offered help of Events Management and SU Dining Services.
This event welcomed those who celebrated Diwali and those who just wanted to learn about it. This attracted the attention of not only students, but the university faculty as well. President Green and First Lady Lynn Buck had made an appearance. The celebration was all-inclusive and welcoming to everyone as they wanted to teach more students and faculty about what this celebration is all about.
This celebration featured food made by Susquehanna University’s Dining Services. Most of the dishes contained no meat and were intended to be as traditional as possible. The event also had refreshments, crafts, and several other activities for those who stopped by to enjoy. The club had set up a table for visitors to enjoy lantern making and a photobooth to help those who came to remember the moment. The club even had props at the ready for people to pose with, and to end the night, a Kahoot containing questions all about Diwali and its celebration.
Diwali is celebrated over a series of five days and each of which has a few different activities that people enact in. Some of these include the cleaning of one’s home, family gathering, feasting and fireworks. The story behind Diwali is different depending on where someone lived. However, the commonality between all people who celebrate the holiday and the story they believe in is that Diwali represents the victory of good over evil. This event is celebrated by millions of Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains internationally.
The president of ACA, Jena Lui, shared her feelings about the event.
“Diwali is a major religious festival that celebrates the light that comes through dark times. And it was truly and experience watching all these friends come together to celebrate this festival!”
The club, Events Management and Dining Services all worked hard in putting the celebration together. Members of the club had said they were delighted with the outcome they had received that day.
