While Halloween preparations are underway, Iowa State is getting ready for another festival, Diwali Nite, in honor of the Indian festival Diwali, also known as Deepavali — the festival of lights.

The Indian festival, one of the most important festivals in India, signifies good over evil and the homecoming of King Rama of Ayodhya after a 14-year exile. The actual celebration of Diwali lasts five days and on the third day, Indians celebrate good over evil. This year, the third day is Tuesday.

The Indian Students’ Association is hosting Diwali Nite on Sunday to celebrate the festival. The event will feature Indian cuisine and a show containing dances, singing and skits from all regions of India.

While the event will be a way to celebrate Diwali, the festivities in India are different.

“In India, we light diyas [clay lamps] outside to welcome good back into our house. We make rangoli [sand painting with white powder and colors] on the ground, and we have tons of fireworks,” said Nidhi Shah, junior in biochemistry and Diwali Nite coordinator. “We also make many kinds of Indian sweets and give gifts to each other, just like in Christmas.”

Diwali is mainly observed by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs in India, but at Iowa State the festival will be celebrated by a more diverse student body.

Darin Williams, junior in advertising, has never celebrated Diwali before, but he will be this year. He is interested in learning about different cultures. So far he has started learning three languages — Hindi, Chinese and Japanese.

“Something we don’t have in America is traditions. Indians have many old traditions,” Williams said. “Every state in India has its own dances and dialects.”

To showcase Indian diversity, Shah said, “We are going to have many different kinds of dances ranging from Punjabi bhangra to South Indian dance.”

Williams will be performing in a Punjabi dance. Williams’ favorite song from his performance is called “Mundian To Bach Ke Rahe” by Labh Janjua. A common version of this song in the U.S. is a remix by Punjabi MC featuring rapper Jay-Z.

Sahin Hoque, senior in finance, is also participating in same the dance as Williams. Hoque is of Indian Muslim descent. For Hoque, Diwali’s significance is not religious.

“Diwali is a time to get together and show camaraderie,” Hoque said.

Hoque attended Diwali Nite last year and said the most memorable part of the show was the skit poking fun at stereotypes of ABCDs — Indian Americans born in the U.S.

While Hoque and Shah enjoyed last year’s show, Shah said the show this year will be a lot different.

“Every year Diwali Nite is in the form of a talent show,” Shah said. “This year we are trying to improve and make the show better. So the whole show will be one skit, and in the skit, we will incorporate the dances and singing.”

Diwali Nite

5:45 to 9:45 p.m. Sunday

Great Hall, Memorial Union

$12 in advance, $15 after Friday, free for ISA members

Enjoy a night of Indian cuisine and appetizers with skits, a fashion show, Bollywood fusion, classical and fold dances.