ETSU’s Indian Student Organization held a special fundraising event celebrating the festival of Diwali on Nov. 4 in the Cave. Members of ISO participated in selling Chai–or Indian–tea and doing mehndi, commonly known as henna.
Diwali, also known as the “Festival of Lights,” is a major festival celebrated largely by Hindus, as well as by several other religions. As one of the most popular festivals in Hinduism, it symbolizes the spiritual victory of light over darkness and good over evil.
“We burst firecrackers and light diyas to spread the message of positivity,” said Minakshi Bansal, Secretary of ISO. “We worship goddess Lakshmi and believe it will bring prosperity and happiness in our lives.”
Additionally, Bansal noted that they create rangolis, share gifts with each other, distribute various sweets and engage in feasts with friends, family and loved ones.
Through this event, the Indian Student Organization hoped to share the joy and positivity of the Diwali festival with the campus community while also establishing the reputation of ISO on campus. Being a fairly new student organization, ISO seeks to spread awareness to their group and pursue new members.
“There is a sizable Indian student population at ETSU, and through ISO we are hoping they can find a welcoming community of shared values and common roots,” said Bansal. “We would also like to involve the rest of the ETSU family in learning more about Indian culture and experiencing it through our events.”
ISO’s participation in the Cultural Remix during Welcome Week familiarized many new students with their organization, providing henna designs for student and faculty members at their booth. This was a significantly popular activity, so stay connected with ISO for similar events in the future.
To stay connected with ETSU’s Indian Student Organization and their upcoming events, find them at @iso_etsu on Instagram.
