2008 Woodie Awards
Indian students plan 'Festival of Lights'
Doug Graham/Editor in Chief
Issue date: 11/1/07 Section: After Hours
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For Ankit Jain, this year's Diwali celebration isn't just a religious experience - it's a chance to show Americans a little of his culture.
"Being Indian, I know it is Christmas and I love celebrating American festivals," said Jain, a senior in automotive technology and president of the Indian Student Association. "So I thought Americans might enjoy an Indian festival."
The festival, in which Hindus light candles to symbolize the victory of good over evil, will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, in the Dance Studio in the Weede Physical Education Building.
Jain says that he and others in the Indian Student Association wanted this year's Diwali celebration to be bigger than those of years past. This year's fest includes an authentic Indian meal ordered in from Springfield, Mo., $1,000 worth of fireworks, and traditional Indian dancing all night long.
"(We've been) celebrating Diwali for the past 11 or 12 years at Pittsburg State University," Jain said. "But this year we are doing it on a very, very big scale."
Jain says he expects over 300 people to come to the festival. While the Pittsburg Diwali fest has traditionally been attended mainly by Indians from the area, this year, the ISA sold tickets to everyone, with over 200 sold so far.
Jain says this year's festival is multicultural in several ways.
"We have been practicing in Grubbs Hall for the past two months," Jain said. "It's not like it's only Indians. I have non-Indians, I have Americans, I have Chinese."
Tickets for the Diwali festival are $8 for students and $12 for everyone else. To purchase tickets, call the PSU Office of International Programs at 235-4680, or call Jain at 704-5817.
Tickets may or may not be available at the door, depending on how many are sold in advance, so Jain recommends that those interested buy tickets in advance.
"Being Indian, I know it is Christmas and I love celebrating American festivals," said Jain, a senior in automotive technology and president of the Indian Student Association. "So I thought Americans might enjoy an Indian festival."
The festival, in which Hindus light candles to symbolize the victory of good over evil, will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, in the Dance Studio in the Weede Physical Education Building.
Jain says that he and others in the Indian Student Association wanted this year's Diwali celebration to be bigger than those of years past. This year's fest includes an authentic Indian meal ordered in from Springfield, Mo., $1,000 worth of fireworks, and traditional Indian dancing all night long.
"(We've been) celebrating Diwali for the past 11 or 12 years at Pittsburg State University," Jain said. "But this year we are doing it on a very, very big scale."
Jain says he expects over 300 people to come to the festival. While the Pittsburg Diwali fest has traditionally been attended mainly by Indians from the area, this year, the ISA sold tickets to everyone, with over 200 sold so far.
Jain says this year's festival is multicultural in several ways.
"We have been practicing in Grubbs Hall for the past two months," Jain said. "It's not like it's only Indians. I have non-Indians, I have Americans, I have Chinese."
Tickets for the Diwali festival are $8 for students and $12 for everyone else. To purchase tickets, call the PSU Office of International Programs at 235-4680, or call Jain at 704-5817.
Tickets may or may not be available at the door, depending on how many are sold in advance, so Jain recommends that those interested buy tickets in advance.
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