'Festival of Lights' celebrated

The Willkie Quad auditorium swelled with music, laughter and the tinkling chimes of ankle bells Saturday night when about 550 people celebrated Diwali, the Hindu "Festival of Lights," with the Indian Student Association.\nWomen in brightly colored saris and men in flowing traditional garb mingled with parents and children before settling in to enjoy the evening.\nSenior Neena Patel, ISA's vice president of communications, said Diwali is one of the most important holidays of the Hindu year. She said its status is similar to that of Christmas in the Christian tradition.\nThe name of the festival comes from the Sanskrit word "deepavali," meaning "row of lights." The holiday marks the New Year on the Hindu lunar calendar and is on the night of the new moon in the month of Ashwin. Celebrants traditionally light clay lamps to illuminate the natural darkness. Patel said the date of this year's Diwali observance was in late October, but ISA chose to hold its festival in November so it wouldn\'t conflict with other campus events.\nSenior Shekhar Menon, who was emcee for the event, said Diwali is celebrated in different ways and for different reasons in the various regions of India and South Asia.\nHe described a family ritual that is common in several areas.\n"The whole family will wake up before dawn," Menon said. "Everyone will take an oil bath and then greet the sunrise before beginning the day's festivities."\nThere are many stories associated with the reasons for celebrating Diwali. Most of the stories center on a god in the Hindu pantheon and his or her triumph against evil in the world.\n"The lamps and other symbols of Diwali represent the triumph of good over evil and of light over darkness," Patel said. "It is a joyous celebration and one the biggest parties of the year."\nDiwali Nite 2000 featured a number of dances and music from India and an authentic dinner menu. Senior Hima Tadoori, president of ISA, said the performances were a combination of traditional styles and western influences.\nThe student performers selected their own music, which often sounded like a mix of European techno beats and traditional Indian songs and choreographed dances to accompany them.\n"For many people, Diwali at home is a busy time full of food and music," Patel said. "(ISA) wanted to keep that happy atmosphere, but the students enjoyed organizing their own festival and wanted to give it a younger feel"