SFU experienced a slice of Hindu culture last week at its eighth annual Diwali event at Surrey’s Aria Banquet Hall on Tuesday, November 3.
The annual celebration of “the festival of lights” is a part of SFU’s aim to engage its South Asian students and the greater community.
Diwali, widely celebrated in India and around the world, signifies light over dark, knowledge over ignorance, prosperity over poverty, and good over evil. It marks the beginning of a new year for Hindu peoples, and is considered to be a time to embark on new beginnings and ventures. Elaborate decorations, lights, fireworks, and food preparations are all key to this festival.
SFU took the initiative eight years ago to begin an annual event that encompassed all these factors and to further deepen cultural ties with its South Asian community members.
Over 300 government, community, and business leaders, along with SFU students, alumni, staff, and faculty members attended the event. The celebration kicked off at 6 p.m., with a reception, followed by the evening program and dinner. The opening act was a lively Bhangra performance by members of the Vancouver International Bhangra Celebration Society.
The event concluded with a fusion performance of Scottish and Punjabi dance, followed by a door prize draw with SFU goodies and gift cards.
The funds raised through ticket sales for the event are to be used for the SFU India Student Mobility program, which aids students who want to study, volunteer, and work in different cities and villages in India.
The community support for this event had an impact on SFU student Dara Hill, who was one of the student speakers at the event. Hill is a fourth-year Communications student, traveller, and photographer who interned for six months last year at the Deshpande Foundation, a global non-profit organization that promotes social innovation and sustainable entrepreneurship.
“It really is an honour to be the student speaker at this year’s SFU Diwali Gala,” Hill told The Peak.
“There is a diverse group of individuals in this room, but one common thread they hold is the way they value experiential learning, creative problem solving and discovery in just as high of a regard as I do.”
She continued, “It is this community that made this experience in India a reality for me, and I’m so excited to share with them a taste of what they supported.”
SFU chancellor Anne Giardini mentioned in her speech how diversity and community engagement lie at the heart of SFU’s mission and ensure continued success. SFU President Andrew Petter spoke to the many milestones that SFU has accomplished as a university.
“We’re proud of the fact that we do things differently than traditional universities,” said Petter.
“In particular, I think the thing we do different and do best is our commitment to engaging the student community. It is truly the value that defines us and has led to some of our biggest achievements.”
