The Asian Culture Club held its second-ever Indian event, celebrating the holiday of Diwali with a sunset potluck dinner at the San Ignacio hall rooftop on Oct. 30.
Diwali, or Deepawali, is a religious festival celebrated in India and all over the world by people of the Hindu, Jain, and Sikh religions. It is also known as the Festival of Light and is a celebration of good’s triumph over evil. It is celebrated with parties, prayers, food, family, and fireworks.
The festival is tied to a Hindu Epic, known as Ramayana, chronicling the life of Rama, the seventh incarnation of the Hindu deity Vishnu. The date symbolizes the return of Prince Rama, his wife Sita, and brother Lakshmana to their kingdom in Ayodhya, after their 14-year exile.
The citizens of Ayodhya lit earthen lamps to celebrate their welcome after Rama defeated the ten-headed demon king Ravana. This year the festival was held on Nov 1, though the date changes every year, following the Hindu lunisolar calendar.
As Diwali coincided with the Spanish holiday Día de Todos los Santos, Asian Culture Club members held the potluck a couple of days earlier, to ensure maximum attendance.
The event featured a potluck table where students brought food that reminded them of home. There were a variety of dishes such as warm chai, empanadas, samosas, and homemade cookies. People sat at tables lit with candles, conversing, watching the sunset, and coloring rangoli designs on paper.
Ericka Jarin, a sophomore who attended the event, praised the club’s coordination of the event.
“I really liked the overall atmosphere,” said Jarin. “And the fact that it was in the evening when everything was so calm. It was a vibe.”
The event was organized by the Asian Culture Club Treasurer, Namita Chawla, a third-year Indian student at SLU-Madrid.
“I know that a lot of people here enjoy Indian culture a lot,” Chawla said. “I think the Asian Culture Club is such a great vessel to explore different cultural themes and festivals, introducing them to different communities.”
This aligns with the club’s aim to educate the SLU community about the culture and traditions of different Asian countries. Chawla also emphasizes the need for these types of events for students who are far away from their families.
“In a personal way, it’s me longing for everything I miss back home, and sharing that with a different community,” Chawla said.
