On Oct. 22, NYU Shanghai celebrated the Hindu festival Diwali. Organized by Food and Festivals (F&F), the celebration included authentic Indian cuisine, choreographed dances, and a true showcase of Indian culture. Aside from the Bollywood dance number, the entire event took place to the soundtrack of popular Indian music, complete with theatrical music videos for the viewing pleasure of those that were uncomfortable with getting out of their seats to dance. Lathika Mouli, Secretary of Food and Festivals (F&F), was glad about the turnout for the event. “[It] went better than expected, and people really seemed to be enjoying themselves which made me really happy. Diwali is about spreading happiness so I was glad that we could host this festival and show what it really means.” Diwali, also known as the festival of lights, takes place sometime between mid-October and mid-November, but the date varies each year due to the fact that Hinduism does not follow the Gregorian calendar. According to the President of F&F, Sarabi Eventide, last year there was a significant number of requests for the club to begin showcasing Indian holidays, but plans were never executed. However, this year under her leadership, the club decided to pursue these requests. “I personally have an interest in Indian culture, so I was more than happy to organize the event,” she said. “I believe these sorts of events help foster a sense of community by introducing the student body to parts of different cultures. My aim for the future, however, is to get more information out about the holidays so people know why they are celebrated, rather than just seeing how." Freshman Eric Morales, who originally went to the event in order to “see traditional Indian culture and eat some good Indian food”, was very pleased with the way the event turned out. “There was no food left, except yogurt, but I still enjoyed letting loose and meeting new people and seeing people I know do things I didn’t know they were capable of. [I guess it] just shows not to judge books by their covers.” Rae Dehal, a sophomore of Indian descent, found the event to be a great success, as she thought "the Diwali celebrations here were really great and helped me find a sense of community at NYUSH, being so far from home, and it was awesome that everyone was so interested in sharing our traditions and food.” [cincopa AcJAtCsIQP6n] This article was written by Kadallah Burrowes. Send an email to [email protected] to get in touch. Photo Credit: Zhang Zhan