Indian students share culture at festival

By JESSICA MAYRER Chronicle Staff Writer

The aromas of curry and korma filled the air and a sitar played gently as the Indian Student Association welcomed hundreds of visitors to the first annual Festival of the Lights in Bozeman at Montana State University.

ERIK PETERSEN/CHRONICLE Anita Sundararajan portrays the Demon King Ravana during a skit depicting one of the stories behind Diwali, the Indian festival of lights, Sunday night at the SOB Barn on the campus of Montana State University. Diwali is a significant festival in Hinduism, Sikhism and Jainism and is celebrated on the first day of the lunar Karita month. “As-Salamu Alaykum, or ‘peace be upon you” men said, welcoming visitors, bowing slightly.

Diwali, or the Indian Festival of the Lights, is celebrated all across India, and now in Montana. It marks the final harvest and offers prayers for the upcoming year, tales of good trouncing evil, and fireworks.

“It’s always more sweets, more food, more fun, more firecrackers,” said Smita Menon, who shared the celebration’s many origin stories with a packed house at the SOB Barn.

During the biggest annual festival in India, people wake early, pray, take an oil bath and light the lamps, marking light’s victory over darkness. Diwali is also a day to visit with neighbors, Menon said, and is considered an auspicious day, good for starting a new a new business, for example.

During the festival, it’s common to offer a prayer to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, as women in brilliantly colored saris did Sunday, surrounding a red altar dotted with candles, red flowers and figurines.

After the prayers, the audience heard the story of Ram, who was exiled from his kingdom by his father, under pressure from an unfriendly stepmother. Ram’s ultimate return to his throne signifies light winning over darkness, and, in northern India, is the lore behind the Diwali Festival.

Interpretations of Diwali’s origins are diverse, with different regions offering different origin stories. Yet all of them celebrate pure intentions over selfish ones.

But then India itself is diverse, a sprawling country of more than 1 billion people practicing a range of religions including Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.

“Diversity seems to be the theme of India,” Menon said.

Reflecting that diversity, the ISA is forming a hybrid culture here in Bozeman. With 70 students in the organization from all over India, who speak a multitude of languages, it’s nice to come together and find common ground, said festival organizer, Vishwanath Annavarapu.

“Diwali helps us overcome all social barriers,” she said.

After the prayers and origin stories, Shraddha Rane and Pallavi Chheda, both 19 and from Bombay, danced, spinning in sync, hands outstretched, their dresses a swirl of brilliant blue and maroon, gold sashes catching the light.

The festival sold out, seemingly displaying an eagerness to share stories and cultures among all area people, Annavarapu said.

“They will get to know more about us,” Annavarapu said.

Jessica Mayrer can be reached at jmayrer@dailychronicle.com or 582-2636.

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