Photo by Trinity Johnson, Photographer.
Culture does not have to be familiar to be shared, and celebrating Diwali at Chapman means making room for both tradition and new connections.
Lights illuminate the room, and florals brighten every corner. Food and performances bring students together to share a celebration familiar to some and new to others.
Diwali, the festival of lights, brings to life a message of light, goodness and knowledge. The celebration serves as a representation of community.
Chapman's South Asian Student Association (SASA) hosted its annual Diwali event on Oct. 22 in the Interfaith Center.
The holiday is widely celebrated and SASA’s program emphasizes that all faiths and backgrounds are welcome.
“The program is inclusive for everyone where you could participate, experience, enjoy the program, even if you have never celebrated Diwali before," said SASA advisor and Chapman business and economics professor, Pradip Shukla.
Photo by Trinity Johnson, Photographer.
Rather than needing a shared background, the event creates an opportunity to discover newfound common ground. For those unfamiliar with Diwali tradition, SASA members introduce their experiences and share their lives with the wider community.
The event began with an opening prayer, followed by a cultural background of the celebration with visuals and personal accounts.
“These shared memories remind us of the importance of unity not just within SASA but across all communities represented on campus,” said senior business administration major and SASA Co-President Sandhya Krishnan. “Together, I hope we make this campus a home away from home.”
The stage was brought alive with mesmerizing colors of the desi-formal wear as the dance performances filled the space with energy. Between each set, singers kept the energy moving forward in the program, inviting the audience to immerse themselves into the culture with new melodies.
“Many of the SASA members celebrated Diwali in their own homes with their parents or grandparents,” said Shukla. “So they reflect on their memories and they share that experience with the audience.”
For some students, Diwali had always been more familiar at home before coming to Chapman and spending it away from family.
“Growing up, ever since I was a kid we would celebrate with family and friends,” said senior economics and political science major Adie Bains.
Since attending Chapman away from his home during Diwali, Bains celebrates here on campus with the community.
“It is definitely different, but it's good to see campus putting in the effort to replicate it here,” Bains said. “It gets the community to come out and shows representation on campus, so that people can experience it while away from home.”
Photo by Trinity Johnson, Photographer.
Creating that sense of community meant making the event accessible to students who had also never observed Diwali before.
“Each of us has a role in building a compassionate community,” said senior psychology major and SASA’s Co-President Arushi Shelvankar. “We’re cultivating a spirit of inclusivity at the heart of our Chapman family.”
Throughout the evening, students and faculty members were invited not just to watch the celebration, but to take part in it through prayer and song. SASA’s dedication to fostering a strong community was recognized at the program's closing.
Photo by Trinity Johnson, Photographer.
The organization received a certificate from its SASA advisor, Shukla, in recognition of its hard work and commitment to Chapman.
“I think it's important for a university to celebrate because universities are where knowledge is created, knowledge is preserved and knowledge is passed on to the next generation,” said Shukla. “A university should show that there's a variety of different cultures.”
Diwali is celebrated not only religiously and spiritually to honor culture but also to educate the campus and provide an experience like no other.
“This brings us all together and there is a lot of love here,” said Bains. “That is what matters the most.”