![\"Diwali\"](\"http:\/\/quantumnew.esu.edu\/insider\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Diwali-Festival.jpg\")
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania\u2019s Desi Student Organization will host Diwali Night \u201915 at 6 p.m. on Saturday, October 24 in the Innovation Center. Diwali, also known as \u201cThe Festival of Lights,\u201d is a five-day festival that occurs on the 15th day of lunar month Kartik (October\/November).<\/p>\n
Diwali Night \u201915 is sponsored by ESU\u2019s 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\u2019s membership is open to all students. The term \u201cDesi\u201d is a common term referring to, or characteristic of, people of South Asian descent.<\/p>\n
Diwali Night \u201915 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
The word \u201cDiwali\u201d is the modern version of the Sanskrit word \u201cDeep Avali\u201d which means rows of light and so the celebrations are often referred to as the \u201cFestival of Lights.\u201d The festival symbolizes the triumph of good over evil and focuses on appreciating the goodness in everyone \u2013 friend or foe. Diwali festivals are celebrated by a billion people in South Asia and elsewhere in the diaspora annually.<\/p>\n
Admission to Diwali Night \u201915 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.<\/p>\n