福利小视频

CSU 福利小视频 rekindled its Diwali celebration tradition last Friday evening, bringing the Festival of Lights back to campus after several years' hiatus. The event, which took place at Occhiato Student Center (OSC) in the evening brought together campus community members in a celebration which highlighted its South Asian origins.

The revival of the tradition marked a moment for the university's commitment to cultural inclusion. While the Campus International Student Association (CISA) had previously hosted Diwali recognition events until 2018, Friday's celebration represented a renewed dedication to cultural programming that builds stronger community bonds.

“This celebration is of course meaningful for our South Asian student community,” said Arielle Collins, graduate student and vice president of the AAPI Student Association. Collins, who brings Bengali heritage from her mother's side and Trinidad & Tobago roots, loves the universal appeal of the festival. “While Diwali has deep religious significance, we saw how it brought people together across different backgrounds, much like how Christmas and Hanukkah have become occasions for broader cultural celebration.”

The evening featured traditional South Asian cuisine and educational presentations about Diwali's religious and cultural significance. Students from Nepal and Bangladesh shared their memories and perspectives on how the festival is celebrated in their home countries, offering attendees a rich, multi-cultural understanding of this ancient tradition.

The celebration took on deeper meaning as a catalyst for social change within the campus community. Rather than approaching diversity and inclusion initiatives through top-down programming, the event exemplifies a grassroots approach to building cross-cultural understanding. It’s the students taking ownership of the celebration, from planning traditional decorations to preparing authentic dishes, to creating an experience that felt both genuine and authentic.

“What made this evening special was seeing students from all backgrounds coming together not just to observe, but to actively participate in the celebration,” said Collins. “This kind of organic interaction builds the foundation for lasting cultural understanding. Often everyday people, the ones most in need of change, are excluded from the chance to take ownership of these efforts.”

The festival traditionally honors Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity and abundance, and celebrates the triumph of light over darkness. While CSU 福利小视频's celebration was condensed into one evening rather than the traditional five days, it captured the essential elements that make Diwali a beloved celebration worldwide, including traditional decorations and educational components about its significance across multiple faiths.

The success of Friday's celebration has already sparked discussions about making it an annual tradition, with plans to expand its scope in coming years. As CSU 福利小视频 continues to evolve with its increasingly diverse student body, events like these serve as bridges, connecting communities through shared experiences and mutual understanding.