INS celebrates festival of lights with henna, flash mob
Diwali, the festival of lights. In India, it is a celebration of physical and spiritual light, symbolizing light overcoming dark or good overcoming evil.
The word Diwali comes from the Sanskrit deepavali and means row of lights. This festival is celebrated by many people of the Hindu religion and is know all over the world for it’s art, lights and spirit. Different ways people celebrate Diwali are lighting oil lamps, setting off firecrackers, cleaning their homes and sharing delicious meals with friends and family.
Since this holiday has just past, the Indian Student Association is hosting a fundraiser in the light of Diwali. During the first week of November, students could gather in the Bovee Center by the Down Under Food Court to get henna, or Mehndi, done on their hands.
“I was talking to one of my professors and they brought up the Indian Student Organization’s fundraiser,” said junior Kristina Sepanski. “I’ve wanted a real tattoo but I don’t know what I’d want, so henna is a really cool alternative.”
The definition of Mehndi is the art or practice of painting elaborate patterns on the skin with henna. There are different types of patterns such as the traditional or custom designs. It is believed that the deeper the color of the henna on a bride’s hands, the stronger the love will be between husband and wife. Henna also represents good luck and prosperity. In Morocco, the doors of newly built houses are painted with henna to ward off any kind of evil.
“Women get henna because it is of significant importance in their lives,” said senior and president of ISA, Swetha Pathi. “It serves as a symbol of good luck and health in the future. It also is a large part of wedding ceremonies.”
Students in the Bovee University Center were able to see the booths set up and get some knowledge on the history of mehndi. This art is known as the original way of tattooing. It’s letting a plant dye the skin and it lasts for a good three weeks.
“To celebrate Diwali and get our events going we lit off firecrackers a couple days before,” said graduate student and vice president of ISA, Santosh Kotha. “Tons of people came out during our second and third day of being in the UC. We made $270 from the event and that is awesome.”
The events help bolster the image of the group, Pathi said, and strengthen awareness.
“Holding fun events like these gives the organization good exposure,” Pathi said. “It also gives knowledge about how others celebrate holidays, what they go through and how they live day-to-day. That’s really important.”
The ISA will also be putting on the main event, the traditions of Diwali, on Nov. 16 in the UC Rotunda from 12:30-3:30 p.m. This will give students a chance to learn about other cultures and holidays. There will be a couple of faculty members speaking, like the Director of the College of Business Administration Dr. Emil Boasson. They will also hold a “flash mob” outside the UC on Monday Nov. 10.
“We are a very large student organization with about 200 members at CMU,” said Kotha. “We need all the support we can get and we want everyone to stop by and celebrate with us.”
