South Asian Students Team to Celebrate Diwali

October 19, 2009

Author: Amy Julia Harris

Source: The Stanford Daily

http://www.stanforddaily.com/cgi-bin/?p=1034540

The Old Union courtyard was awash in saris, food, candlelight and music Sunday night as hundreds of students celebrated the Hindu holiday of Diwali.

This year, four of Stanford’s most prominent South Asian organizations — the Hindu Student Council, Sanskriti, the Stanford India Association and the dance team Basmati Raas — pooled their efforts and funds to host the Diwali festival.

Diwali, or “The Festival of Lights,” is a major Hindu festival celebrated across India and Nepal that marks the return of Rama to his homeland after his 14-year exile and defeat of Ravana. According to legend, the citizens of Ayodhya, the capital of Rama’s kingdom, celebrated their king’s return by lighting rows of lamps.