One of India’s most important festivals, Diwali, will be celebrated on campus Sunday, Oct. 28. Hosted annually by the India Association, Diwali Night 2012 includes a cultural show, fireworks display and authentic dinner. Tickets are $3 for the cultural show and dinner tickets are $7 for S&T students and $10 for all others. Tickets will be available beginning at noon Monday, Oct. 15, at the Leach Theater Box Office, located in the vestibule inside the main entrance to Leach Theatre, facing 10th Street. Tickets are limited and run out quickly.

Diwali Night 2012 will begin at 4 p.m. with the cultural show in Leach Theater. Fireworks will follow at 6:30 p.m. at the football field. The Indian dinner will be served at 7 p.m. in the St. Pat’s Ballroom of the Havener Center. The food and the cultural show are organized, prepared and performed by S&T’s Indian students.
Popularly known as the ‘Festival of Lights,’ Diwali signifies the triumph of good over evil. The word Diwali comes from the Sanskrit word ‘Deepavali,’ meaning row of lights. Houses and shops can be seen decorated with earthenware oil lamps called ‘diyas.’ These lamps, which are traditionally fueled by mustard oil, are placed in rows in windows, doors and outside buildings to decorate, creating a glowing line of lights.
Although it will be celebrated at S&T on Oct. 28, this year Diwali falls on Nov. 13. The date changes annually depending on the moon’s phases and is usually calculated according to the Hindu lunisolar calendar.