Diwali—the festival of lights—is one of the biggest events of the year in India, and it’s coming to Camosun College. On Thursday, October 19 from 4 pm to 10 pm at Na’tsa’maht on the Lansdowne campus, there will be both Indian and western music (including a DJ) as part of the Diwali festivities at Camosun.
Camosun International student experience advisor Audrey Navello says that making sure that all students—domestic and international—feel at home and have fun is the college’s top priority.
“We would like to involve all students,” she says. “It’s an Indian event—it’s really big in India—but we would like other international students to also feel welcome and to come and have a look at what Diwali is and party with us.”
Navello says the celebration also typically involves fireworks, but, for safety reasons, fireworks can’t be part of the party at Camosun.
“There will be partying, lots of lights, and people sharing sweets and food and a good time together. We’re just going to start slowly,” says Navello, adding that there will be people there to help explain the event to curious students and passers-by. “We’re going to have a little bit of music, we’re going to try to organize some games, because students are still studying and lots of students want to come from Interurban as well. So we don’t want to start the biggest fun when students are not here yet.”
At 5:30, two student musicians will play; there will also be Punjab dancing, known as Bhangra. Navello says at least half of Camosun’s Indian population comes from a Punjabi background, but that this event will be more inclusive.
“We would like to have dances for all the students,” says Navello, “so, Bollywood for most of the students and Bhangra for the Punjabi students.”
After the dancing and some appetizers, a DJ will take over, says Navello.
“The DJ’s going to play some Indian music but also some English songs. It’s a really welcoming event. Last year, we had lots of students from other countries coming as well; I’m not sure if we had that many domestic students, and that would be great if they would feel welcome and got involved,” says Navello. “The purpose of Diwali is to party, and to share, and to celebrate this event together, but it’s also to allow people from outside, who may not know what Diwali is, to come and discover a little bit more about the Indian culture.”
Navello stresses that the event is for every Camosun student and says that everyone can dance how they want and dress how they want.
“We want all students—domestic, international, Indian, Asian— from all countries to feel really welcome,” she says.