Hundreds of students and adults gathered at the Athletic Center on Saturday for the Diwali Dhuamaaka Festival of the Lights, sponsored by the Hindu Students Association.
"Deepvali," or Diwali, is Sanskrit for "clay lamps" and "illuminated lights." Although the typical festival usually lasts for five days, the program at Hopkins was condensed into five hours.
For different Indian religions, Diwali has different meanings. In rural India, it signifies a harvest festival, as the end of cropping season, and in other areas it symbolizes the exchange of gifts and the welcoming of prosperity.
During this time, homes are thoroughly cleaned and windows are opened to welcome Laksmi, the goddess of wealth. Candles and lamps are lit as a greeting to Laksmi. Houses are prepared for her arrival by being completely cleaned and white-washed. Gifts are also exchanged and meals are prepared during the holiday.
On the night of the festival, the houses are illuminated by oil lamps or candles. Otherwise, the goddess of wealth would not give a blessing to the homes. This was mirrored in the decorations spread across the Athletic center.
"It was nice to see the pathway of lights to the festival," said sophomore Jesse Hindle. "The decorations inside the AC were very elaborate, and so many people were dressed traditionally."
Typically, during Diwali, families dress in new clothes and jewels and go visiting others. There is an emphasis on dressing in white attire in celebration of Laksmi.
During Diwali, families also exchange gifts and sweets. The festival symbolizes an opportunity to reconcile differences and forget quarrels and celebrate. This was presented in the program of events that offered both food and entertainment.
Students and adults lined up to get a plate full of traditional Indian food from Abbar Restaurant. After eating, guests were invited to dance Garba, a traditional Gujarati dance in a large circle. Many Hopkins students danced clockwise and counterclockwise around the circle.
"It was nice to see that everyone was getting involved," said sophomore Emma Essock-Burns
Following the Garba, the order of events began with Kranthi, the Indian a capella group singing the Indian national anthem. Next, the group Bhajans played on traditional Indian instruments and sang.
Later, the festival debuted Shakti, a new Indian classical dance team.
"It was a great experience," said sophomore Shakti dancer Nikita Gupta. " There was a lot of energy and excitement."
Other performances included a Raas and Garba dance and a medley. In the Raas and Garba dance, students combined complicated Gujarati dance moves with the inclusion of stick hitting. The medley included a variety of Hopkins students with a fusion of different styles ranging from traditional to conventional.
The program ended with Bhangra dancing after midnight.
Diwali is one of the largest festivals in India and the largest in the Sikh community. Different from Hindu, Sikh Diwali is in honor of Guru Hargobind, the sixth guru to mark the Guru's release from prison in 1620, and to this day Sikh celebrants still light the Temple with candles and electric lights on Diwali. Similarly, Sikh Diwali is also a time to light fireworks, exchange gifts, and celebrate. It is also one of largest Indian festivals celebrated at Hopkins.
"It's really amazing to see that the campus is so supportive. It's nice to see that so many people come, not just Indian people," Gupta said.
