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PITTSBURG —
Diwali, one of the most important festivals of India, was celebrated Saturday with singing, dancing and a meal of Indian foods hosted by the Pittsburg State University Indian Student Association.
The occasion, also known as the Festival of Lights, marks the joyous return of Prince Rama and wife Sita after 14 years of exile, and also the killing of an evil demon.
The first part of the evening featured cultural performances in the Crimson and Gold Ballroom, Overman Student Center, with remarks by Dr. Pawan Kahol, PSU dean of graduate and continuing studies.
Though he left India many years ago, Kahol said he has pleasant memories of Diwali celebrations.
“Indians place lights on top of the flat roofs of buildings, and as a kid we looked forward to that,” Kahol said. “Then came fireworks and eating.”
The program also included several songs from Bollywood movies, a keyboard performance of music by Oscar-winning Indian composer A.R. Rahman by Collin Joy and lots of dancing by young women in colorful costumes.
“I was doing four performances, so it was change, change, change,” said Feni Amin. “Basically, we all choreographed this. We didn’t know the dances before, we taught each other.”
“This was the best performance ever, I loved it,” added Prabhjot Gill.
Audience members were also appreciative.
“My father went to Burma, Bangladesh and India in 1941,” said Bill Sollner, Arma. “If he had seen those girls, he might not have come back.”
There was also a fashion show of Indian attire. Probably the youngest model was Raj Gugnani, 3 1/2, who had come with family members from Fort Scott.
“They announced that anyone in traditional Indian attire in the audience was welcome to be in the fashion show, and all the kids wanted to be in it,” said the youngster’s mother, Sonia Gugnani.
The program went off well, and dinner, catered by an Indian restaurant in Springfield, Mo., was scheduled to follow at 6 p.m. Unfortunately, there was a slight delay of around an hour because the truck bringing the food hit a deer near Pittsburg.
“I understand the truck lost its brakes and is undriveable,” Kahol said. “Students have gone in cars to bring the food here. I told the students maybe they should hold the deer and start cooking it.”
The food, when it arrived, consisted of chicken, vegetables, rice and naan, a traditional Indian bread. No venison was on the menu.
Diwali, one of the most important festivals of India, was celebrated Saturday with singing, dancing and a meal of Indian foods hosted by the Pittsburg State University Indian Student Association.
The occasion, also known as the Festival of Lights, marks the joyous return of Prince Rama and wife Sita after 14 years of exile, and also the killing of an evil demon.
The first part of the evening featured cultural performances in the Crimson and Gold Ballroom, Overman Student Center, with remarks by Dr. Pawan Kahol, PSU dean of graduate and continuing studies.
Though he left India many years ago, Kahol said he has pleasant memories of Diwali celebrations.
“Indians place lights on top of the flat roofs of buildings, and as a kid we looked forward to that,” Kahol said. “Then came fireworks and eating.”
The program also included several songs from Bollywood movies, a keyboard performance of music by Oscar-winning Indian composer A.R. Rahman by Collin Joy and lots of dancing by young women in colorful costumes.
“I was doing four performances, so it was change, change, change,” said Feni Amin. “Basically, we all choreographed this. We didn’t know the dances before, we taught each other.”
“This was the best performance ever, I loved it,” added Prabhjot Gill.
Audience members were also appreciative.
“My father went to Burma, Bangladesh and India in 1941,” said Bill Sollner, Arma. “If he had seen those girls, he might not have come back.”
There was also a fashion show of Indian attire. Probably the youngest model was Raj Gugnani, 3 1/2, who had come with family members from Fort Scott.
“They announced that anyone in traditional Indian attire in the audience was welcome to be in the fashion show, and all the kids wanted to be in it,” said the youngster’s mother, Sonia Gugnani.
The program went off well, and dinner, catered by an Indian restaurant in Springfield, Mo., was scheduled to follow at 6 p.m. Unfortunately, there was a slight delay of around an hour because the truck bringing the food hit a deer near Pittsburg.
“I understand the truck lost its brakes and is undriveable,” Kahol said. “Students have gone in cars to bring the food here. I told the students maybe they should hold the deer and start cooking it.”
The food, when it arrived, consisted of chicken, vegetables, rice and naan, a traditional Indian bread. No venison was on the menu.
Aside from the deer and the truck, there was one more casualty of the evening. Ananda Jayawardhana, Indian Student Association faculty advisor, said that the fireworks display planned after the meal had been canceled, at least for the evening.
“It’s just too late to do it now,” he said.
However, those attending still seemed glad to be there.
“There aren’t many Indians in Fort Scott, so whenever there’s an Indian function or festival, we try to attend it,” said Sonia Gugnani. “I like the way the PSU students have kept the spirit alive.”
There were around 500 present, and Abhishek Aloori, Indian Student Association president, said he thought the performances, food and festivities make the Diwali celebration popular with everyone.
“This may have started maybe 20 years ago as something for the Indian students, but it’s not just that anymore,” Aloori said. “Now Diwali is for the other students, for the community, for everyone in Pittsburg.”
