This past weekend, Ashoka, WashU’s South Asian Student Association, put on its annual Diwali show in Edison Theater. This year’s theme was Rang & Rhythm. The performance is the result of the practice and hard work of a variety of student groups, as well as the coordination efforts of Ashoka executives. Over 200 students and staff members took part in the show’s nine acts, culminating in a multicultural celebration of the Festival of Lights over three nights. 

The performance commemorates its titular holiday that originates in South Asia. This year, the holiday of Diwali took place in late October and early November. According to the Hindu Student Association, whose representatives spoke before the show, the multi-day festival was started around 2,500 years ago to celebrate the annual harvest. This Festival of Lights is celebrated around the world each year in a variety of ways. Here at WashU, the Diwali show is one of them.

“I’m incredibly proud of all the … performers,” Varun Vadhera, a sophomore and Ashoka’s Co-Cultural Chair and Diwali Show Co-Director, said. “To see everyone come together and perform in front of 1600 people was amazing!”

Isabella Diaz-Mira | Junior Photo Editor

Sophomore Shalini Vlcan performs with WashU Garba. The team dances to rhythmic music in flowy, glittery skirts. WashU’s all-girls Garba team incorporates Bollywood-inspired moves into the traditional Garba dance style, which originates from the Gujarat region of India.   

Sam Powers | Junior Photo Editor

Kavita Shah, a senior and a soloist from Sur Taal Laya (STL) a cappella, sings in the group’s “Exploration of Heartbreak” mashup. STL specializes in Bollywood fusion a cappella. The group mixes popular Western songs with popular South Asian songs, with soloists singing in multiple languages. 

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Isabella Diaz-Mira | Junior Photo Editor

Three musicians, graduate student Myan Sudharsanan and juniors Anitra Krishnan and Shruthi Madhugiri perform classical Indian music using vocals, strings, and percussion. 

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Isabella Diaz-Mira | Junior Photo Editor

Sophomore Anika Verma and junior Niki Adma dance for the WashU Bhangra (WUBB) team. Bhangra is a style of dance from the Punjab region of India, and it uses items that mimic farming equipment. One of these items is a sapp (or saap, spellings vary) which is opened and closed throughout the dance.

“We are immensely proud of how [the show] turned out!” senior Ritika Garg said, speaking for herself and her fellow team captains Diksha Padmanabhan and Anaika Bedi. “We are grateful for the chance to perform in the Diwali show each year and love being able to showcase what Bhangra is and the richness of Punjabi culture that is beautifully integrated into this art form.”

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Isabella Diaz-Mira | Junior Photo Editor

Sophomores Lasya Gudur and Riya Kurella lead a line of dancers during WashU Chaahat’s performance. Chaahat is a Bollywood fusion dance team, and its performance contains multiple segments, narrated by a video component that plays on the screen behind the dancers. The performance’s theme is based on the animated movie “Rio.”

“It was definitely rewarding to see what it looked like when it all came together, and it felt great to see how much we’ve improved since our first practice in September,” Lakshmi Mulgund, a sophomore who is in charge of the group’s PR, said. “Getting to see all the other teams and seeing different styles was exciting because we know how hard all of these teams worked!”