Community Members Asked to "Save the Date," Diwali – Festival of Lights at ESU

Posted by: admin on October 11, 2012, No Comments

Tickets are now on sale for “Diwali – Festival of Lights 2012” to be held at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania (ESU) on Saturday, November 3. The word “Diwali” is the modern version of the Sanskrit word “Deepavali” 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. Sponsored by ESU’s Desi Student Organization (DSO) and the economics department, this year’s event will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Keystone Room in the University’s Center for Hospitality Management.

Admission to the event is $20 for the general public and $5 for children ages 4 to 12. Tickets for ESU faculty and staff are $12.  ESU students are admitted at no cost; however complimentary tickets are limited.  Students must contact the economics department (located at 420 Normal Street) in advance to receive their free student ticket upon presentation of current I.D.

ESU’s DSO represents the countries of 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.

For more information or to purchase tickets contact Dr. Pats Neelakantan, department chair and professor of economics, at 570-422-3002, pats@esu.edu or Dr. Seewoonundun Bunjun, professor emeritus of economics, at 570-422-3240, shiv43@gmail.com.