By Brett Mcgrath
Carrying the torch of leadership and commitment to one’s cultural heritage, Savvy Bhatnagar, Sharvil Desai and many others are working to prepare for this year’s celebration of Diwali here at the University of Louisville.
The Hindu festival of light that celebrates the Hindu new year is deeply rooted in many facets of Indian cultures.
The culmination of food, dance, music and cultural performances will commence on campus from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Sat., Nov. 17, at the Red Barn.
“I celebrate Diwali every year,” said Savvy Bhatnagar, U of L president of the Indian Student Association.
“The main purpose of our event is [to] promote India’s culture and its rich heritage. Diwali gives us a perfect platform to do just that, and in doing so share our culture with other ethnic groups on campus,” said Bhatnagar, a business economics major.
The yearly event conducted by the ISA is the campus’ largest. With more than 600 people in attendance annually, the event had to turn away a few patrons in 2003 for exceeding the Multipurpose Room’s seat capacity with a total reaching around 900 in attendance.
With more than 400 members including students and alumni, the organization serves as a community support group for Indian students in which they can build relationships with others and help each other through orientation to the U of L community.
Each year, Diwali helps complete the ISA’s goal of interaction and continued dialogue that, according to Sharvil Desai, a Ph.D student in electrical engineering, “[allows for] learning the ethnic background of India, knowing our background, knowing the background of our forefathers and where they came from.”
This event welcomes the many Indian students involved, but also the many Indian-American participants and non-Indian participants who are involved in not only attendance but in presentation and preparation.
With a representation of many Indian cultures of varying regional and ethnic backgrounds, it can be a cultural experience for everyone in attendance.
“Diwali gives people an idea of how India is [to those] who have no idea what India is…you get exposed to a lot of the culture,” said Desai.
Tickets for this event are on sale through the officers of the ISA, through the International Center and will be sold at the door.
Admission is $10 for students, $12 for non-students
For more information please visit https://www.louisville.edu/rso/isa/.
