{"id":28633,"date":"2026-11-04T09:00:46","date_gmt":"2026-11-04T16:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/newsite\/?p=28633"},"modified":"2026-10-29T13:28:09","modified_gmt":"2026-10-29T20:28:09","slug":"camosun-college-student-society-diwali-celebration-returns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/newsite\/2026\/11\/04\/camosun-college-student-society-diwali-celebration-returns\/","title":{"rendered":"Camosun College Student Society Diwali celebration returns"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\u2019s most popular events.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s Instagram page at @dilwalevictoria<\/a> for ticket info.)<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Students at last year\u2019s Diwali celebration, put on by the Camosun College Student Society (photo provided).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The student society\u2019s first Diwali event took place during the day at Camosun\u2019s Lansdowne campus, attracting approximately 40 attendees.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt originally started, we had a board member who wanted to do it,\u201d says CCSS clubs and events coordinator Tagg Kelt. \u201cThey wanted it to be mostly like a religious observance.\u201d<\/p>\n

The event grew steadily over the following years, eventually moving to an evening celebration as attendance increased.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe next year we did more and more, and it sort of kept building until it became too big for us to run on campus,\u201d says Kelt.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been one of our most popular events, for sure,\u201d he says. \u201cPeople just wanted to come to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe cost of living and entertainment has sort of dramatically outpaced people\u2019s ability to pay for it,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Unlike high school, where friendships often develop through geographical proximity, college brings together students who have chosen to pursue similar academic interests, he says.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving something for people to do that\u2019s affordable and they don\u2019t have to carve money out of their living budget to do is an important thing for people to have,\u201d says Kelt.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s less and less of that just generally in the world, right? Free or very affordable things to do,\u201d says Kelt. \u201cThe more of that we can do, the better.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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\u2019s most popular events. The celebration, presented by local event promoters Dilwale in collaboration with the CCSS, begins at […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":28634,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[363,15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28633","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-november-4-2026","category-campus"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t