Diwali brings community members comfort, sense of belonging

More than 200 University of Maryland community members gathered to celebrate Diwali at McKeldin Mall’s Omicron Delta Kappa Fountain on Tuesday. 

The university’s Hindu Students Council and Indian Students Association collaborated to host the event, which featured water lanterns with LED candles that community members could decorate and release into the fountain. 

Diwali — the festival of lights — is celebrated by lighting lamps to make offerings to gods, according to the New York Times. Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists celebrate the holiday which generally symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil, Religion News said. 

The celebration emphasized the importance of community building and provided a sense of escapism from tense current global events, according to Indian Student’s Association co-president Dhruv Suri. It also provided a space for students who may not be able to travel home to participate in the festivities on campus.

Nehi Pathak, a senior psychology major and co-president of the Hindu Students Council, said that celebrating Diwali on campus is important because it presents students with an opportunity to find peace in today’s world.

“I think this event is super important because it gives, at least Hindus, and at least Indian people, or anybody who celebrates, a tiny space of comfort and community, especially in this year and all the hardships marginalized communities have gone through,” Pathak said. 

In the days leading up to Diwali, families traditionally decorate and clean their homes, as well as exchange traditional sweets as gifts, according to the BBC. Students who have school obligations, however, may not be able to travel home. 

“I think it’s especially important for those people who can’t go home to their families, especially if they don’t live close currently, or don’t have the transportation to go home for Diwali,” Pathak said. 

Suri, a senior immersive media design and computer science major echoes this idea. Diwali is one of his favorite holidays because to him, it represents multiple things like family, warmth and community. 

“There’s a lot of turmoil in the world, a lot of disagreement, a lot of tensions,” Suri said. “And I think one thing that Diwali really represents is peace and tranquility. I hope that if only, even if just for one night, people are able to come here and forget whatever differences they may have, negative things they may be experiencing in their lives, [and] that they’re able to just enjoy this.”

Sashu Prakash, a senior mechanical engineering major and senior advisor of the Hindu Students Council, said that this event symbolizes the unification of the different communities who celebrate Diwali while asserting that they matter. This is especially important given the rise of authoritarianism and nationalism in the world, according to Prakash. 

“We have a lot of international students here, especially in the graduate community, that are starting their entire lives [anew] in America…in a climate…where the government and a lot of people are hostile towards immigrants in our community,” Prakash said. 

Sharayu Bolisetti, a freshman psychology major and out-of-state student, appreciated the celebration as it made her feel less homesick. Bolisetti felt the event was a really nice way for the community to celebrate and show people what the holiday means.

“I hope it will remind us of all the good in the world, and just remember to focus on the positives,” Bolisetti said. “And [help us] know that everything will be all right eventually, even if it seems like it’s not in a good state right now.”

Freshman immersive media design major Khushi Kapoor emphasized that events like these provide students with the additional opportunity to make new friends from their own culture. Shohag Sen, a freshman applied physics major, echoed Kapoor’s idea, having grown up in a community that lacked Indian representation. 

“I had many white friends growing up, not many other Asian friends, so they were always very welcoming of our culture, but it’s just not the same, because there are some feelings specifically related to your culture that you can’t relate to other people,” Sen said. 

Saanvi Goel, a freshman computer science and public policy major, attended the event to engage with her culture as she was told that college is where you find your community. Goel believes the holiday signifies the pushing out of evil and enveloping ourselves with light and hope, which she feels is missing in the current political context.

“I don’t have that much hope for our political future moving forward, but I do feel like this celebration has given me a chance to be happy…[and has reignited my hope], which is what we need to fight back against this administration,” Goel said.

Diwali celebrations will continue throughout this week globally, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac. It will culminate on Thursday, Oct. 25, where Bhaj Dooj — a festival that focuses on the bond between brothers and sisters will be celebrated.