Exonians Celebrate Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights

By CHLOÉ LIND, FIONA LIU, AVNI MURARKA, and DIYA SANDEEP

This past week, members of the Exeter community gathered to celebrate the longstanding tradition of Diwali and share in celebrating the triumph of good over evil. The holiday expands the Hindu diaspora, and its celebration at Exeter was no different. Students of all faiths convened to partake in the cherished traditions.

Diwali, also referred to as Deepavali, is the Hindu Festival of Lights and is symbolic of the prevailing good in the world. Exonians gathered to celebrate the holiday by lighting lanterns along the academy paths and attending a special catered dinner in Grainger auditorium.

Diwali is a holiday with deep cultural and religious significance behind it. Lower Laavanya Rasiah, cohead of Hindu Society, shared that “The most important part of Diwali for me is the actual story behind it. When the Hindu god Ram came home after 14 years of exile, the entire kingdom had lit the way with diyas, which are candles, so he could find his way home. I think that’s so beautiful, because it teaches us that no matter who we are, or how blessed, we need guidance from our home and community.

Celebrating with the broader Exeter community allows Hindu Society to share the significance of these traditions with other Exonians, creating a shared understanding and appreciation that goes beyond cultural boundaries.

A wide variety of student-led groups were involved in organizing the celebrations. “This year, the co-heads of the Hindu Society and the Asian Advisory Board, along with Rev. Casey, Ms. Aimee, Avni Murarka, and Chinasa Nwankwo, planned the Diwali celebration. We had weekly lunch meetings to organize the event. We set up the diyas on Sunday, Oct. 27, and set up Grainger before and after the celebration. A special thank you to Ms. Aimee for organizing the catering!” Rasiah shared. 

Rasiah also spotlighted the help of Subcontinent Society and Shakti, saying, “Subcont helped us by publicizing the event and getting as many people to attend as possible. Shakti helps us by setting the mood with a wonderful dance performance that perfectly bridges the gap between the end of dinner and the start of partying.”

This year’s celebrations featured the debut of an exciting new trip to the Sri Lakshmi Temple on Friday, Nov. 1, in order to observe the puja aspect of Diwali. Rasiah explained the rationale behind the trip, saying that “Hindu Society and Asian Advisory Board had weekly lunch meetings, and that’s how we came up with the idea . . . to add the prayer and the religious aspect as well as the cultural aspect. In the past years, we’ve just done the cultural aspect of the partying.” Rasiah also added that she really enjoyed the trip, saying, “It was really nice and we were all praying together and we really bonded over it. Since it was our first time doing it this year, we only took around ten students. I hope that in the coming years, more students will know about it, and therefore attend.”

An important part of the Diwali festivities was a catered dinner in Grainger auditorium, followed by Shakti’s dance performance. Rasiah commented that her favorite part of the celebrations this year was “witnessing the energy and excitement during the dancing. There’s something magical about seeing people of all backgrounds lose themselves in Bollywood music because it’s so different from other types. It was a powerful reminder of Diwali’s spirit of togetherness.” 

Rasiah also shared how Exeter changed her celebration of Diwali. “Coming to Exeter has transformed Diwali from a family-centered celebration into a community-wide cultural event,” she said. “Here, it’s about sharing its beauty with people from various backgrounds and helping others understand and participate in the festival’s joy and significance. The experience has broadened my appreciation of Diwali as a celebration that fosters inclusivity and intercultural learning.” 

Rasiah even recalled that “There was a girl in crutches and a boot who stayed dancing the entire time.” 

Throughout time, the Diwali celebrations at Exeter have continuously grown in popularity. Rasiah remarked that, “Initially, it was a smaller gathering, but with growing interest, the past leaders have expanded it into a campus-wide event that encourages more participation. Each year, we do our best to improve whatever possible and make the celebration more engaging and memorable for everyone involved.” 

People from all different cultures and backgrounds come to participate in the merrymaking and learn more about Hindu culture. Rasiah noted that the celebrations have become “less of just a Hindu thing and more of a community thing. People of such varied cultural and religious backgrounds attended our event - I think that’s one of the things that made it an Exeter celebration.”