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A Guide to Diwali
What is Diwali?
Diwali, also known as the “festival of lights,” celebrates the victory of good over evil. During the five-day holiday, small clay lamps are lit; these lamps are called “diyas,” and each represents an individual’s inner light that shines in the face of evil.
At Washington University, Diwali is a dance, musical and theatrical performance. There will be a fashion show and performances by the Pikers and Sur Awaaz, Wash. U.’s co-ed Hindi a cappella group.
The show is put on annually by Ashoka, the South Asian student association. The group turns the traditionally Hindu, Jain and Sikh holiday into a multicultural celebration.
“What makes us most proud of our show is that many people from different backgrounds and cultures do participate in our show, making it a very diverse and holistic experience for everyone,” said senior Priya Nagarajan, Ashoka’s co-cultural chair.
Nagarajan wants to share the occasion with the whole Wash. U. community. Each act represents a different South Asian culture through song and dance. Also, the show will incorporate holidays from other religions, like Eid ul-Fitr, a three-day Muslim holiday that celebrates the end of the month of Ramadan.
What’s the plot? Diwali’s acts are tied together by an interwoven story. Although Ashoka has been fairly tight-lipped about this year’s play, the group has let some details slip. This year’s show is titled, “Love in the Time of Partition,” which is a reference to the 1947 Partition of India, when India and Pakistan became two independent states.
Senior Monis Khan, the play’s writer and director, is a first-generation American. Since his great-grandparents lived in India and his parents are from Pakistan, it’s fitting that “Love” explores the tension between Indian Hindus and Pakistani Muslims at the time of the Partition.
In the story, four present-day Wash. U. students travel to Pakistan for vacation. However, the students meet a mysterious girl on their journey who sends them back to the year 1947. The protagonists find themselves in the middle of a violent clash between Hindus and Muslims on the night of both Diwali and Eid.
“The play is a celebration of both holidays, but, unfortunately, as we’ve seen in different times in history, it’s a night that leaves people vulnerable to ethnic violence,” Khan said.
The plot will harp on the theme of good versus evil, but this year’s story will also discuss the role that antiquated stereotypes play in our society.
“What we’re really talking about is how the stereotypes that grew out of the Partition affect South Asians to this day,” Khan said. “The turmoil of 1947 is relevant to how we socialize today. You think we’ve moved on, but we really haven’t. We have to talk about it; we have to confront it.
“Only through confronting these stereotypes with tact and comic relief can we challenge the foundation upon which they are rooted. By challenging our notions of the other, we can create a meaningful dialogue that will hopefully alleviate the cultural tension that still exists.”
The theme may seem heavy, but rest assured, the story promises to remain comical, even as it spurs dialogue.
When is it again?
Performances are Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at noon and 6:30 p.m. at Edison Theatre. See you there!