There’s nothing like a traditional religious festival to promote appreciation for the diversity that UCLA has to offer.
This Sunday starting at 6:15 p.m., the Hindu Students Council plans to host a festival to celebrate the Hindu festival Diwali, which honors Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, and the god Rama’s return from a 14-year exile. Diwali is similar to the American New Year and involves lighting candles, something third-year psychobiology student and co-president of the council Kathan Shah says “symbolically (is) also about lifting the darkness within.”
Last year, the event was held in the Straus Clubhouse with around 150 attendees. With the celebration in Ackerman Grand Ballroom this year, a large turnout is anticipated.
“We’re really excited. We’re really hoping this will be one of the biggest celebrations (to happen on campus),” said fourth-year biology student and president of the Hindu Students Council Khushali Shah.
This year there will be performances by South Asian groups, prayers, traditional Indian food and dress, and Hindu religion and Indian culture education.
“Diwali is our main first event. It’s our new year and pretty much our biggest Hindu event, so it took a lot of time (to plan),” Khushali Shah said .
The HSC, founded by Khushali Shah, meets on campus every Wednesday and discusses different aspects of Hindu culture and religion. Last year during Heritage Week the council led a large forum about Hinduism and Indian culture. The group also puts on a handful of events on campus throughout the year, Diwali and Navratri being the two main celebrations.
When Khushali Shah founded the HSC as a first-year student, she hoped to give other Hindu students a community where they could discuss and practice.
“I just thought it was ridiculous that there are so many Hindus on campus and there was no united club for them to come together,” she said.
“That first year we just thought we really needed to start setting up so we could celebrate the festivals and give meaning to the festivals, to allow college students to connect to their religion and their culture.”
Now with Diwali, she hopes both practicing Hindus and anyone else interested will come to the event.
“A lot of people don’t have direct access to go to a temple. So basically it’s a way to bring Diwali to (UCLA),” said Khushali Shah. “It’s also just a way to bring culture to UCLA students.”
The celebration is by no means limited to Hindu students. Third-year neuroscience student and co-president of the HSC Nitish Mittal said, “Everyone’s invited. So whoever wants to learn more about it or see it or celebrate it (is welcome).”
For those who are unfamiliar with Hindu traditions, the event will also educate. Last year there were posters explaining the reasons why certain rituals were carried out. This year will expand upon that; there may even be a translator for the prayers, Kathan Shah said.
“A lot of students celebrate it, but they don’t know exactly why they’re doing it, so we hope to put some meaning in to why they’re doing it,” Khushali Shah said.
The event will also educate about another cause called the Sankara Eye Foundation, which provides free eye surgeries for the poor in India. A video about the charity will be screened at the celebration in order to raise funds and awareness.
Through events like these, the council hopes t o expand so that in the future they are open to not just UCLA students but people in the greater Los Angeles area as well. Future events could involve inviting similar organizations from other schools like USC and Cal State Northridge, said Khushali Shah. Moving to Ackerman to host Diwali this year is a significant step in itself.
“We just want to keep expanding,” she said. “It’s in Ackerman Grand Ballroom this year ““ that’s amazing.”