Modern Indian culture on show at dance event

The+Indian+Student+Association+hosted+Teach+Me+How+to+Desi+on+Oct.+17+in+the+Great+Hall+of+the+Memorial+Union.

Jenna Reeves/Iowa State Daily

The Indian Student Association hosted “Teach Me How to Desi” on Oct. 17 in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union.

Lindsay Greifzu

Photo booths, music, dancing and free soda will liven up the Maintenance Shop for the Indian Student Association’s Desi Night from 9 p.m. to 11:45 p.m. Friday.

Desi Night is a free event and everyone is welcome. The first 125 people to arrive will receive free ’80s sunglasses. A blacklight photo booth with props for fun photos will be there for attendees to use. 

“It’s a dance event that mixes music from both western world and India’s Bollywood film industries, which creates a unique atmosphere that can be enjoyed by anyone,” said Latif Masud, president of the Indian Student Association.

This is the fifth year that the Indian Students Association has hosted Desi Night. It started out as an annual event, but the Indian Students Association is hosting more due to the popularity, and this is the third Desi Night of the school year.

“Desi” is a slang term for Indian, and these club parties are popular around the country for young Indian men and women to get together and have a good time. Most major colleges have some sort of events like this for Indian students.

“Desi Night really serves as a modern connection to Indian culture,” Masud said.

The rest of the events the Indian Students Association hosts are typically focused on traditional Indian culture, so Desi Night is a celebration of popular, modern culture and music from India. It’s a great way for ISU students to experience a culture that may be different from their own and learn more about the Indian Students Association, Masud said.

The Indian Students Association will take part in several events during the rest of the semester, such as Cyclone Market, International Food Fair and Holi 2015, which is known as the festival of colors.