The Camosun College Student Society (CCSS) is partnering with local organizers to celebrate Diwali at Lucky Bar on November 6, continuing a tradition that has grown from a small campus gathering into one of the student society’s most popular events.
The celebration, presented by local event promoters Dilwale in collaboration with the CCSS, begins at 10:30 pm and features music by Inspire & Bliss. Tickets are available to the general public, with discounted admission for Camosun students. (See Dilwale’s Instagram page at @dilwalevictoria for ticket info.)
Diwali, commonly known as the Festival of Lights, is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and some Buddhists. Although its religious significance varies between communities, celebrations often involve lighting lamps, gathering with family and friends, and sharing food. The festival is widely associated with the triumph of light over darkness.
The student society’s first Diwali event took place during the day at Camosun’s Lansdowne campus, attracting approximately 40 attendees.
“It originally started, we had a board member who wanted to do it,” says CCSS clubs and events coordinator Tagg Kelt. “They wanted it to be mostly like a religious observance.”
The event grew steadily over the following years, eventually moving to an evening celebration as attendance increased.
“The next year we did more and more, and it sort of kept building until it became too big for us to run on campus,” says Kelt.
The decision to move the event off campus came after attendance exceeded what organizers could safely accommodate with the available security, says Kelt. The celebration has evolved from an event primarily intended for Camosun students into one open to the wider Victoria community.
“It’s been one of our most popular events, for sure,” he says. “People just wanted to come to it.”
Kelt says the current event operates in partnership with an outside promoter who handles ticketing and other arrangements. Admission is now just under $20, with a discount code available for Camosun students. While the celebration has expanded, Kelt says the CCSS remains committed to making student events affordable, particularly as rising living costs leave students with less money for recreation. He points to events such as CamFest and Clubs Days, which the student society offers free of charge, as examples of its efforts to make campus life more accessible.
“The cost of living and entertainment has sort of dramatically outpaced people’s ability to pay for it,” he says.
Kelt says extracurricular activities are an important part of post-secondary education because they allow students to develop friendships and connect with people outside their classrooms.
Unlike high school, where friendships often develop through geographical proximity, college brings together students who have chosen to pursue similar academic interests, he says.
“Having something for people to do that’s affordable and they don’t have to carve money out of their living budget to do is an important thing for people to have,” says Kelt.
The celebration also offers opportunities for students to connect with cultural traditions; Diwali celebrations give international students opportunities to wear traditional clothing, celebrate their heritage, and share their culture with others. Kelt says providing students with affordable opportunities to socialize and participate in campus life remains a priority for the student society.
“There’s less and less of that just generally in the world, right? Free or very affordable things to do,” says Kelt. “The more of that we can do, the better.”