Contact: Maridith Geuder
India native Sailabala Tungtur prepares to demonstrate the classical Bharata Natyam dance of her country.
Educational seminars, native food, music, and fireworks will highlight next week's public celebration at Mississippi State of a traditional Indian festival.
On Thursday [Nov. 4], the university's India Student Association, in collaboration with the university's International Services Office and Mitchell Memorial Library, will present two informational seminars about Diwali.
The 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. sessions in the library auditorium are designed to introduce non-Indians to the annual weeklong festival that symbolizes the victory of good over evil and a welcome to the goddess of wealth and prosperity.
On Saturday [the 6th], the student association and ISO will sponsor an actual Diwali celebration. Like the seminars, the weekend celebration is open to the public.
The MSU library programs have been designed to allow time for audience interaction and questions, said ISA president Arun Ramakrishnan. "We'll showcase music and dance and provide a sampling of Indian sweets," the industrial engineering graduate student added.
The Saturday event takes place 5:30-9 p.m. at the Starkville Church of God. The church is located near campus at the intersection of South Montgomery Street and Locksley Way.
While a major Hindu festival, Diwali is widely celebrated by Hindu and non-Hindu alike in all geographical regions of the country, Ramakrishnan said. "The name is taken from a Sanskrit word that roughly translates to "festival of the lights," he explained.
Gail Peyton, campus outreach coordinator for Mitchell Memorial Library, said the Diwali Awareness seminars meet a major library goal of building relationships across campus.
"We wanted to collaborate in programming with the International Services Office, and we looked to the largest international student organization on our campus," Peyton said. Additional programming with the ISO is anticipated, she added.
The India Student Association has about 300 members, including MSU professors and family members.
For the Saturday event, MSU shuttle busses will provide transportation that begins at 4:30 p.m. from Chadwick Place Apartments, with a stop at Colvard Union before arriving at the South Montgomery church location. Return shuttles will begin at 8:30 p.m., delivering participants to a fireworks viewing at MSU's former Stone Boulevard intramural field across from Thompson Hall. The evening will conclude with shuttles returning to the Chadwick Place Apartments.
Food for the Saturday Diwali event is being provided by a Tuscaloosa Indian restaurant and local Starkville families. A $5 participation fee will be charged to defray expenses.
"Mississippi State has more than 600 students from more than 70 different countries," said Phil Bonfanti, director of the International Services Office. "Through this festival, we have an opportunity to add to understanding of other cultures and foster dialogue.
"We think it will be an outstanding opportunity to learn and to have a good time," Bonfanti said.
For more information on Diwali events, telephone Peyton at (662) 325-7671; Ramakrishnan, at 312-0594; and Bonfanti, at 325-8929.