To celebrate the Hindu holiday Diwali, Prosper and Walnut Grove’s Indian Student Associations held a celebration of the holiday at Frontier Park Nov. 18.
“Diwali is basically the festival of light,” junior Saachi Bohrakoti, president of Prosper’s Indian Student Association, said. “And, it’s usually associated with the goddess Lakshmi, who is known for prosperity.”
Many celebrating families hosted parties during the weekend of Diwali, which took place from Nov. 12 to Nov. 16.
“Diwali is usually a time where my family calls our neighbors over, and we all have this big feast,” Bohrakoti said. “And, we all kind of just sit there, talking, and have fun together.”
The event included a potluck dinner, so attendees brought their own food, most of which featured traditional Indian food.
“Indian food is different because we use a lot of spices that other cultures don’t necessarily use,” junior Aravind Juvva said. “And, it gives a completely different flavor from what you would normally see.”
The Bollywood Dance Club performed at the Diwali celebration.
“The Bollywood Dance Club is a mixed club from Prosper and Walnut Grove, and we teach dances,” freshman Tanushri Vijayakumar, vice president of the Bollywood Dance Club, said.” We teach dances, and we perform at cultural events, like ISA’s Diwali.”
Music and dance are deeply rooted in South Asian culture.
“Us Indians love expressing ourselves through our moves and how we do stuff,” sophomore Anish Moilla, president of the Prosper Bollywood Dance Club, said. “So, dance and music is one of our favorite ways to get out there and enjoy ourselves.”
Attendees could also play soccer and cricket and get mehendi, a method of temporary skin decoration from South Asia, applied to their hands and arms.
“Like any culture, it (these traditions) gives us a sort of cultural identity that we can brag about, basically,” Juvva said. “Like, we have this. We have that. And, it adds a lot to who we are because the food (and traditions) is based on where you are in the country of India and stuff like that, so it makes you special.”
