<eat Hall was aglow Saturday night as members of the Carleton community gathered to celebrate the Hindu festival of Diwali.
The event, a collaboration between the Chapel and DESI, was filled with music, dancing, food, performances and a reflection on the meaning of Diwali.
“I have a friend from home who is Hindu who always told me about Diwali and I never got to celebrate it, so I came to see what it is all about,” said Maddie Reynolds ’14.
Diwali, which signifies the end of the harvest, the beginning of the New Year and the return of the SeGod Rama from exile (in Hindu traditions) is one of the most popular and widely celebrated festivals in India. Diwali, typically a time for family, is often celebrated with food, sweets, fireworks and the lighting of many lamps.
Part of the Carleton celebration was the Ramlila, a short play performed by members of DESI, “Dedicated to the Exploration of South Asian Interests.” The play humorously portrayed the life of Rama, who was about to be crowned by his father when his father’s second wife, using a boon that the king promised to grant her, insisted her son be crowned instead.
To save his father’s honor, Rama agreed to the demand, and went into exile for fourteen years with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana. While in exile, Sita was abducted by the evil Ravana. Rama and Lakshmana, with the help of the monkey god Hanuman, saved Sita and defeated Ravana. After completing his exile, Rama returned to Ayodhya, where they lit lamps to celebrate his return, and he was then crowned king.
Diwali is typically celebrated on the darkest night of the year, and lamps are lit to combat the darkness. Light in the Hindu tradition is symbolic of God, truth and wisdom. Thus it is fitting that part of the tradition surrounding the lighting of lamps comes from the thousands of lamps that were lit to celebrate the return of Rama to the city of Ayodhya.
“We don’t set off firecrackers here, which is a hallmark back home,” said Charu Kulkarni ’13. “There are more specific ceremonies, and foods like sweets. Also there isn’t as much dancing there. Here there is (dancing) because it is more of a celebration of the whole culture.”
The evening not only included the Ramlila play, but also a Sitar performance by Senior Lecturer in Raga and Sitar David Whetstone, a Tabla and voice performance by Kulkarni and Yuvika Diwan ’13, as well as a Bhangra (folk dance) and a Bollywood dance. The dance performances opened up the floor to anyone willing, and soon a crowd of dancers filled the center of the Great Hall.
Dr. Anant Rambachan, Chair and Professor of Religion, Philosophy and Asian Studies at St. Olaf College, delivered a reflection on the meaning of Diwali, focusing on the significance of truth, Satya, which is paramount in the Ramayana. Quoting Rama, he pointed out “there is no value equal to truth.”
“Truth has become the servant of power. Truth was compromised in search of profit,” said Rambachan. “The crisis in the world is a crisis of values; we must become more focused on truth to fix the problems we face.”
He said he hopes Diwali becomes a chance for self-reflection, especially of one’s values.
The evening was full of reflection, food, fun, and celebration.
“I love Diwali,” said Meera Sury ’14. “I love how many people in the Carleton community get involved.”
of the most popular and widely celebrated festivals in India. Diwali, typically a time for family, is often celebrated with food, sweets, fireworks and the lighting of many lamps.
Part of the Carleton celebration was the Ramlila, a short play performed by members of DESI, “Dedicated to the Exploration of South Asian Interests.” The play humorously portrayed the life of Rama, who was about to be crowned by his father when his father’s second wife, using a boon that the king promised to grant her, insisted her son be crowned instead.
To save his father’s honor, Rama agreed to the demand, and went into exile for fourteen years with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana. While in exile, Sita was abducted by the evil Ravana. Rama and Lakshmana, with the help of the monkey god Hanuman, saved Sita and defeated Ravana. After completing his exile, Rama returned to Ayodhya, where they lit lamps to celebrate his return, and he was then crowned king.
Diwali is typically celebrated on the darkest night of the year, and lamps are lit to combat the darkness. Light in the Hindu tradition is symbolic of God, truth and wisdom. Thus it is fitting that part of the tradition surrounding the lighting of lamps comes from the thousands of lamps that were lit to celebrate the return of Rama to the city of Ayodhya.
“We don’t set off firecrackers here, which is a hallmark back home,” said Charu Kulkarni ’13. “There are more specific ceremonies, and foods like sweets. Also there isn’t as much dancing there. Here there is (dancing) because it is more of a celebration of the whole culture.”
The evening not only included the Ramlila play, but also a Sitar performance by Senior Lecturer in Raga and Sitar David Whetstone, a Tabla and voice performance by Kulkarni and Yuvika Diwan ’13, as well as a Bhangra (folk dance) and a Bollywood dance. The dance performances opened up the floor to anyone willing, and soon a crowd of dancers filled the center of the Great Hall.
Dr. Anant Rambachan, Chair and Professor of Religion, Philosophy and Asian Studies at St. Olaf College, delivered a reflection on the meaning of Diwali, focusing on the significance of truth, Satya, which is paramount in the Ramayana. Quoting Rama, he pointed out “there is no value equal to truth.”
“Truth has become the servant of power. Truth was compromised in search of profit,” said Rambachan. “The crisis in the world is a crisis of values; we must become more focused on truth to fix the problems we face.”
He said he hopes Diwali becomes a chance for self-reflection, especially of one’s values.
The evening was full of reflection, food, fun, and celebration.
“I love Diwali,” said Meera Sury ’14. “I love how many people in the Carleton community get involved.”