Diwali Nite will celebrate Indian culture through the Hindu festival of Diwali, the festival of lights.

The word Diwali is derived from the Sanskrit word Deepavali. Deepa means “light” and avali means “row.” Diwali, then, means “row of lights,” and light is a central part of the festival. During the festival, homes are aglow with the light of candles and lamps. The light welcomes Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity.

Although Diwali is a Hindu festival, Indian students at Iowa State celebrate regardless of their religious affiliation. They use the festival as a reason to celebrate Indian culture. The celebration includes a cultural program followed by a dinner of traditional Indian foods. The cultural program will feature skits, a fashion show and traditional dances from all over India, said Robin Thoppil, treasurer of the Indian Student Association.

Although many people dance in India, dancing isn’t a central focus of the Diwali festival, said Vipul Tiwari, events chairman for the association. Dancing is a way to share Indian culture and to express joy, he said.

“The only way we can express ourselves here is to have shows,” he said.

Thoppil said the evening’s dinner will stand out because students spend most of the day preparing the elaborate dishes.

“It’s purely a traditional dinner cooked by Indians in the Indian way,” he said. “You rarely get such things in Iowa.”

Diwali is also the Hindu new year. Celebrations, however, make it seem similar to Christmas, Tiwari said. In India, it’s a major holiday that nearly everyone celebrates, Tiwari said. People take off work and school to celebrate with family and friends.

“I get to eat a lot of sweets,” Tiwari said. “If I’m at home, I get a lot of gifts. It’s like Christmas.”

Candy and other sweets are an important part of the celebration, he said. Families make the sweets to share with friends and family.

Gulab jamun is one sweet that will be served at Diwali Nite. Thoppil said his friends have described it as similar to doughnuts dipped in syrup.

One tradition in India that students don’t get the chance to do here is light firecrackers, Tiwari said.

“The biggest thing in India is everybody’s lighting firecrackers all over,” he said.

Another tradition in India is buying new things, especially clothes. New things go with the new year, Thoppil said.

The celebration is about religion as well. Before festivities begin, people pray to specific gods and goddesses, Tiwari said. Some fast, although it is not required.

Hindus worship at the temple in a pooja, Thoppil said. Pooja is a form of worship including prayer and offerings to the deities of the Hindu religion.

The Indian Students’ Association is sponsoring Diwali Nite from 6 to 9 p.m. on Saturday in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union. Tickets are free for Indian Student Association members and $12 for non-members at the door.