I’ve never celebrated Diwali without my family before. Diwali, a Hindu holiday known as the festival of light, symbolizes the spiritual victory of good over evil. This is one of the biggest celebrations in my family and I was, at first, saddened that I would be spending it at Amherst instead of my home. However, the South Asian Students Association (SASA) threw a Diwali Celebration last week (09/08) that made me feel right at home at Amherst!
People from all over campus attended, including professors, the families of students, and people who had never celebrated Diwali before—they were interested in learning more about the holiday and enjoying some flavorful Indian food. I had SEVEN mango lassis (my absolute favorite drink) and went back in line for my third serving of chana masala. My friends and I were huge fans of the naan at the festival (we ate six pieces each) which was catered, alongside the rest of the food, from Bombay Royale.
There were dance and vocal performances from students, Rangoli, and a Henna table at the event. Diwali at Amherst started with a presentation from the E-board on the history and significance of the holiday and ended with an open dance floor where everyone got up and danced. I will admit that I am a terrible dancer and definitely tripped over my dress a lot, but that didn’t make the night any less enjoyable!!
If you’re nervous about attending a college where you may not get to celebrate special holidays with your family, I can assure you that celebrating them at Amherst College can be just as fun. There are so many affinity groups at Amherst that host amazing cultural events and opportunities where students can throw their own celebrations. So if there isn’t already an event for it here, you can make one! If you’re interested in learning how organizing events at Amherst works, check out this link. For those of you who are interested in learning about other cultures, events like Diwali at Amherst are perfect for cultural immersion.
Thank you for reading! If you have any questions about Diwali at Amherst or other cultural events, don’t hesitate to contact me at ipatel28@amherst.edu.