Diwali celebrations to light up the sky

The University of Exeter’s Student Guild Asian Society will be hosting the Hindu New Year festival which is free and open to everyone from the University and the city of Exeter, as a way of providing a cultural experience and an opportunity to connect with the culture and heritage of India. It is also an opportunity to explain the role of the Diwali in which prayers and special offerings are made to Laxmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, and Ganesh, the god of auspicious beginnings.

Activities start at 3pm in The Forum with an opening prayer, Puja ceremony for the New Year. There will be stalls from the various regions of India, opportunities to paint a diya, receive a henna tattoo, participate in dance workshops, dress in Bollywood outfits for photographs, drink tea and lassi. There will be Indian food delicacies available from each of India’s regions to purchase and try from the restaurant Dana Pani in association with the Hindu Temple. The festivities will culminate with a dance performance with the Asian Society troupe followed with a procession to the fireworks at 6.15pm, which can be viewed from the back of the Xfi building.

Final year BA in Business and Management student, Madhav Agarwal is the Vice President of the Asian Society and loves being involved in Diwali celebrations. Agarwal said:“It’s important to share my culture with people from diverse backgrounds and to make the university feel more like home through this celebration. Diwali is a day of happiness and celebration. That good always triumphs over evil is also an important part of the message that I would like everyone to reflect on, as it is the true essence of Diwali.”

He added:“My favourite part of Diwali is when families and friends gather together to light firecrackers and to eat homemade food with my family. The idea of being with my family is what I miss most; however the friends here at university do make me feel less homesick at this special time of year.”

Ravi Nathwani, the Hindu Chaplain for the University of Exeter said:“During Diwali Puja, we worship Mother Saraswati, Goddess of Knowledge, Art and Music. As a place of learning, with thousands of overseas students, the University is the right place to celebrate Diwali. It is time to enlighten ourselves to Unite for Universal  Brotherhood as  there is saying in Sanskrit “Vasudevm Kutumb Kum” World is One Family.”

The events on campus are family orientated providing the opportunity to explore the regions, culture and food of India. Festivities start on Friday 24 October at 12 noon, in the Chaplaincy, Old Library, where the Hindu Chaplin will host the offering of a mountain of food to celebrate New Year, Gowardhan Puja.

Sue O’Hara, University of Exeter, Student Support Officer (Transition and Integration) who is involved in supporting the Asian Society said:“I’m really looking forward to the celebration this year. I love the colour, the atmosphere, the dancing, the food, and the fireworks. It’s great to be able to share this festival with the students and with local residents.”