ESU Hosts Diwali “The Festival of Lights”

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania’s Desi Student Organization will host Diwali Night ’15 at 6 p.m. on Saturday, October 24 in the Innovation Center. Diwali, also known as “The Festival of Lights,” is a five-day festival that occurs on the 15th day of lunar month Kartik (October/November).

Diwali Night ’15 is sponsored by ESU’s Desi Student Organization (DSO), which represents the the United States, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Guyana, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Trinidad, and the Caribbean, as well as other Diaspora South Asians. The organization’s membership is open to all students. The term “Desi” is a common term referring to, or characteristic of, people of South Asian descent.

Diwali Night ’15 will commence with the ceremonial lamp lighting followed by a short introduction to the meaning of Diwali and other festivities around this time of year. The highlights of this year’s Diwali program are classical Bharathanatyam dance followed by popular Bollywood dances by community children. An authentic Indian dinner from Clove Restaurant in Allentown will be served following these dances.

The word “Diwali” is the modern version of the Sanskrit word “Deep Avali” which means rows of light and so the celebrations are often referred to as the “Festival of Lights.” The festival symbolizes the triumph of good over evil and focuses on appreciating the goodness in everyone – friend or foe. Diwali festivals are celebrated by a billion people in South Asia and elsewhere in the diaspora annually.

Admission to Diwali Night ’15 is $20 for the general public and $7 for children ages 4 to 12. Tickets for ESU employees are $12, and ESU students are admitted at no cost, although they need to bring their university-issued student ID to Pats Neelakantan, Ph.D., professor of economics, or Seewoonundun Bunjun, Ph.D., emeritus professor of economics, to the Economics Department (420 Normal Street, behind the library parking lot) to receive their free student ticket by Tuesday, October 20, as quantities are limited. Advance ticket purchase is recommended due to limited seating for the event.

For more information or to purchase tickets contact Dr. Neelakantan at 570-422-3002 or pats@esu.edu or Dr. Bunjun at 570-422-3240 or sbunjun@esu.edu.

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