ESU Students Celebrate Diwali Night

Posted by: admin on October 7, 2011, No Comments

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania’s Desi Student Organization will host Diwali Night ’11 on Saturday, October 15, at 5.30 p.m. in the Keystone Room in ESU’s Center for Hospitality Management. 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 ’11 is sponsored by ESU’s Desi Student Organization (DSO). 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.

Diwali Night ’11 will commence with the ceremonial lighting of lamps followed by a short introduction to the meaning of Diwali and other festivities around this time of the year. The highlights of this year’s Diwali program are classical Bharathanatyam dances choreographed by the highly acclaimed artistic director of Nrithyanjali Institute of Dance, Ramya Ramnarayan, ‘Dasavatar – An Indian Mythological Interpretation of the Darwinian Evolution of Mankind,’ choreographed by eminent Odissi dancer Mitra Purkayastha, followed by exciting Bollywood dance performances by community members and authentic Indian dinner from ‘Spice India.’

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 inSouth Asiaand elsewhere in the diaspora annually.

Admission to Diwali Night ’11 is $20 for the general public and $5 for children ages 4 to 12. Tickets for ESU faculty and staff are $10 and ESU students are admitted at no cost, though students need to contact Dr. Pats Neelakantan or Dr. Seewoonundun Bunjun, in the Economics Department (at 420 Normal Street) to receive their free student ticket in advance 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. Pats Neelakantan 570-422-3002, pats@po-box.esu.edu or Dr. Bunjun 570-422-3240, sbunjun@po-box.esu.edu.