During International Education Week, Missouri Western State University students from India are inviting the campus and community to celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights celebrated on the 15th day of the month of Kartika in the Hindu calendar, beginning at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 17. The celebration is free and open to the public.
Diwali is India’s biggest and most important holiday of the year. The festival gets its name from the row (avali) of clay lamps (or deepa) that Indians light to symbolize the inner light that protects from spiritual darkness.
The celebration will begin with a cultural presentation from a group of Indian students at 4 p.m. in the Hoff Conference Room, Blum Student Union, room 218. At 5 p.m., the celebration will move to the South Pond, near Griffon Hall off Mitchell Avenue, for a Firecrackers and Floating Water Lanterns Ceremony.
Attendees will be able to sample authentic Indian sweets as part of the celebration.
Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.