Fisher’s Asian Student Union (ASU) hosted a festive event on Nov. 6 complete with crafts, music, trivia and South Asian delicacies for students to enjoy while learning about the annual Festival of Lights and the story of Diwali.
Degraj Suberi, President of ASU, said the club wanted to host an event that allowed all students to come and enjoy festive activities and treats while learning about India’s biggest and most important holiday of the year.
Suberi shared a video for the attendees to watch and use to help prepare for trivia, with details about Diwali and the origin of the Festival of Lights. The video explained how Diwali’s Festival of Lights celebrates the triumph of good over evil, and the lamp that is lit during Diwali serves as a metaphor for knowledge and consciousness that can drive ignorance within you away.
The event also provided attendees the materials to create and decorate their own lamp so they could participate in this celebration of triumph.
Computer science major and attendee Purna Chhetri ventured out to this event to get to know people who share the same culture as him, he explained.
Chhetri said, “I think it is a cool event with a lot of fun things offered, and the theme is represented well with all [of] the festive colors.”
Binod Subedi, cousin of Suberi, also chose to come to this event. “Since I am cousins with the president, I figured it would be a great opportunity to come and have fun with friends and learn more about the culture,” Subedi explained while getting ready to start his crafts.
Suberi stated that the ASU hopes attendees stay tuned for their future events and suggest that those interested follow their Instagram (@asu.sjf) to stay up to date.
