On Nov. 7 , SMU’s South Asian Student Association invited the community to celebrate Diwali, an Indian holiday and celebration of lights symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. With food, live performances and an open dance floor, the event drew hundreds of students and community members to Dallas Hall Lawn.
The lawn glowed under string lights and colorful lanterns, accompanied by music remixes playing through the speakers. Students filled the event with various bright colors and sparkles in traditional Diwali attire. With more than 300 people registered, the check-in line stretched far past the main set up, full of students greeting one another with excitement.
SMU Freshman Delaney McClure was introduced to her first Diwali by fellow freshman Anvi Verna, and enjoyed learning about another culture’s traditions.
“I think it’s a really cool event that our campus is able to put on to show all the different cultures and represent them all and then also just coming to kind of experience something different that I didn’t grow up with and support a friend,” McClure said.
After the worthwhile wait, participants lined up for food before the festivities began. Tables filled with trays of samosas, paneer and mango lassi stretched across the lawn. For dessert, members of SASA served gulab jamun, kesari and fruit custard.
After grabbing their plate, students gathered at colorful tables near the stage, waiting for the festivities to begin. SASA’s Vice President of Programming Shivani Ramkumar served gulab jamun as she spoke about the event.
“Our hope through this event is that this event brings awareness to the culture and also diversity,” Ramkumar said. ”Diversity is a really powerful thing. And at SASA, we really celebrate and honor that. And we strive for bringing, like, a unified place on campus.”
The event has been in the planning process since September. Several SASA members worked for months to organize the vendors, decorations and activities to create this large-scale event, allowing representation, inclusion and fun for every member of this campus.
“ These events are all meant to foster that community and that kind of belonging feeling for everyone, not just South Asians, but for everyone,” Ramkumar said, “I’m excited for the performances and personally, I am performing a song as a surprise.”
The stage, in front of the Dallas Hall steps, was white with a golden wall filled with candles and lights. An open dance floor covered the pavement in front of it. Two members of SASA walked up the steps to the stage to greet the crowd and announce a special message from Dr. Jon Carman, SMU’s religious life coordinator.
“[Reverend Lisa Garvin] also asked me to extend our sincere gratitude to the South Asian Student Association and SASA leadership and the volunteers for all the work that has gone into this evening,” Carman said, “So thank you for your time, your leadership, your dedication, we are deeply appreciative as this facilitates an event so that all SMU Mustangs can have a chance to catch a glimpse of the beauty and the excitement that attends to Diwali.”
Activities, including diya painting, a photo booth with a rose-covered backdrop and mehendi designs, also known as henna, were started to fill up participants finished their meals. A crowd gathered to dance together before the announcers took the stage once again. It was time for the main event: the performances.
Talents from the UTD and SMU campuses wowed the crowd in 11 displays of various dances and live songs. First being a dance from the award-winning Bollywood dance team: UTD Raftaar. The team performed a high-energy dance with personality and flair that whipped the crowd into a frenzy of cheers and claps.
Acts from groups such as SMU’s own Bollywood dance team: SMU Rang, SMU K-Pop, UTD Dhunki and SMU students followed, continuing the infectious energy of celebration. The crowd shouted in support of every performer, adding to the joyful atmosphere.
The SASA board showcased their own dance skills to close out the performances and open the dance floor to the crowd. The space filled with students, staff and the broader Dallas community in an eruption of dance and celebration.
SMU Diwali was a success, gathering hundreds of people to celebrate this holiday and find community within one another. SASA’s hope of bringing people together in a “sense of belonging” was achieved in this exciting event.
