The Indian Student Association (ISA) will be hosting Diwali Night on Saturday.

It will begin at the Ames City Auditorium at 5 p.m., and the celebration will continue on through the night. 

The entry will be $8 for students, $10 for ISU faculty and staff and $12 for the general public. 

There will be music, dance and performances from ISU students. A full authentic Indian dinner will also be served.

Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a major religious holiday. It is generally celebrated for about five days. It symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil, though the specific meaning varies among different faiths.

Ratnesh Kumar, ISA faculty advisor, shares the significance behind the Diwali celebration.

“Diwali is a festival of lights that originated in India and is now celebrated globally by the Indian diaspora,” Kumar said. “It portrays the phrase, ‘Tamaso ma Jyotirgamaya,’ meaning ‘lead to light, away from darkness,’ written nearly 2,800 years ago in Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, and resonates with the universal value of seeking enlightenment that we all do on the campus or outside.”

Diwali is celebrated by millions. Kumar explained how the holiday is traditionally celebrated.

“Traditionally, Diwali is celebrated by lighting rows of diyas — little baked clay lamps — in every household, on the dark no-moon night of the Kartika month of the Hindu lunar calendar, glorifying the glowing lights among each individual, even in the moments of darkness,” Kumar said.

Kumar explores how ISA’s Diwali Night contributes to campus culture at ISU.

“The celebration of Diwali by the students is a noble contribution in bringing the rich culture to the campus, providing a homely feel to those familiar but away from home, while making others aware of it and rejoice, thereby bringing diverse campus communities together,” Kumar said.

If you’re interested in experiencing a showcase of rich culture, performances and food, you can learn more about ISA’s Diwali Night celebration here.