The South Asian Medical Student Association, coordinated by students Monica Bhagavan and Mukul Govande, hosted Diwali on October 30, 2022. They describe the celebration and its importance in Hinduism.
Diwali, also known as the “Festival of Lights,” is from the Sanskrit dipavali meaning "row or series of lights.” The term is derived from the Sanskrit words dipa, "lamp, light, lantern, candle, that which glows, shines, illuminates or knowledge” and avali, "a row, range, continuous line, series.” This festival is one of the most important festivals within Hinduism and generally lasts five days and is celebrated during mid-October and mid-November. It symbolizes the spiritual “victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.” The festival is widely associated with Lakshmi, goddess of prosperity, and Ganesha, god of wisdom and remover of obstacles, with other traditions connecting it to Sita and Rama, Krishna, Vishnu, Shiva, and many more. In the epic Ramayana, it is a celebration of the day Lord Rama returned to his kingdom in Ayodhya with his wife, Sita, and his brother Lakshmana, after defeating the demon Ravana in Lanka and serving 14 years of exile.
Celebrants prepare by cleaning, renovating, and decorating their homes and workplaces with diyas (oil lamps), rangolis (colorful art circle patterns), and wearing their finest clothes, performing worship ceremonies of Lakshmi, light fireworks, and partaking in family feasts with mithai (sweets) and sharing gifts.
At our event, mostly attended by first- and second-year students, we hosted a potluck-styled dinner followed by lighting fireworks. It was a joyous time to remind each other of the importance of the festival and create a home away from our homes.