Chapman glows as the 38th annual Diwali Festival of Lights commences
Photo courtesy of Emalia Katelanis
Within the Fish Interfaith Center, flowers are strung everywhere, complete with diyas and the smell of incense wafting through as friends and families take their seats.
On Oct. 23, the South Asian Student Association (SASA) educated attendees on the history and significance of Diwali, putting together a vibrant victory of light over darkness.
The club was also celebrating; of around 200 other recognized student organizations at Chapman, SASA received the 2025 Student Organization of the Year award.
In addition to the university-wide recognition, Diwali itself was recently designated an official state holiday by California Gov. Gavin Newsom. This marks California as the third state in the United States that holds this recognition.
Diwali (or Deepavali) is a festival of lights that celebrates the start of the Hindu New Year, honoring the goddess of wealth, Lakshmi. While originating in India, it is also celebrated by Sikhs and Jains.
Bani Mukherjee, who attended the celebration, believes Diwali is not just an Indian festival.
“It's a festival that is celebrated by many countries, like Dubai, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and the countries keep going,” said Mukherjee.
The Chapman Diwali tradition was established 38 years ago by the Shukla family, professor Pradip Shukla and his wife, Yatri Shukla, when they hosted a group of students in their home for the celebration.
“They came up to me and said, ‘Ma'am, are you Indian? What do you do for Diwali here?’ And I felt so bad for them that they are here and they have no idea that we actually do celebrate,” said Yatri.
Soon after, the word spread that the Shuklas were hosting a Diwali celebration every year. More students came, and soon, not everyone could fit in their home. Expanding from their backyard to Fish solidified the Chapman tradition for good.
“We sat and celebrated Diwali like we were a big family,” said Yatri.
The Shukla family continues to be a prominent part of Diwali at Chapman, sponsoring events and supporting the SASA organization.
“Every year, Chapman University does a pretty good job in organizing this, bringing all the cultures together and celebrating multicultural diversity events,” said Mukherjee. “So we are very proud of Chapman University doing this annually, bringing all students, fraternity, alumni and community leaders across to celebrate under the roof.”
SASA co-President Diya Kulkarni, a senior double majoring in business finance and economics, shared that to her, Diwali meant family gatherings and sharing sweets with loved ones.
“It’s these shared memories and moments of connection that remind us of the importance of unity, not only within our South Asian community, but also across all communities represented on campus,” said Kulkarni.
Lily Mounthongdy, a health science sophomore who had never been to a Diwali celebration, shared her impactful experience.
“It was so touching to see how important this event was to others and how it really connects people,” said Mounthongdy. “I didn't know many people there, but everyone was so kind and even taught me how to dance.”
The celebration showcased performances throughout, such as student-choreographed Bhangra that features high energy and rhythmic dance moves.
To close up the celebration was the Aarti, a prayer of worship and expression of gratitude for the guiding divine energy. In the ritual, attendees were invited to stand and sing along if they knew it.
“We're not just celebrating a festival tonight,” said Kulkarni. “We're cultivating a spirit of inclusivity that's at the heart of our Chapman family.”