Asia Club Brings Community Together For Diwali, Navratri

By Marcus Smith '27, Student Correspondent

The Hindu festivals of Diwali and Navratri occurred in October with commemorations across Indian communities in the Scranton area.

At The University of Scranton, these festivals hold significance for a large part of the community and the University’s Asia Club hosts a celebration of the holidays each year.

Diwali is the annual celebration of good triumphing over evil, commemorated as a festival of lights.

For Sofiya Magar ’28, a marketing major from Scranton and the vice president of the Asia Club, it is more than just a religious ceremony.

“It's about unity, gratitude and the light we share with one another, bringing our community closer together through understanding and celebration,” Magar said. 

The celebration included a presentation on the origins and significance of Diwali and Navratri, food catered by Aramark, traditional Indian dancing and henna painting.

Even though Diwali is an Indian celebration, it is celebrated in many places all over the world.

“Diwali is celebrated across the world by millions of people, not only in India but also in many other countries where South Asian communities live,” Magar said.

For the club, it represents something more than just celebrating an important holiday. It is an opportunity to share this important cultural event with the Scranton community as a whole.

“By celebrating Diwali as a campus club, we bring a piece of this global tradition to our university, allowing students, faculty and the wider Scranton community to come together and experience its warmth and beauty,” Magar said. “It creates a space where people of all backgrounds can learn about, connect with and appreciate the beauty of South Asian culture.”

Ann Pang-White, Ph.D., faculty moderator, was proud of the club officers and the work they put into arranging the event.

“It's delightful to work with Asia Club officers and see how the whole event comes together. I enjoyed watching all the officers dressed up in colorful and refined Indian outfits and the proud smiles on their faces. They worked very hard and deserved all the credits for such a wonderful show of an ancient culture,” said Dr. Pang-White, a professor of philosophy and director of Asian studies.

Over 100 people attended the event held Oct. 24 at Scranton. More than 40 of them were from outside the University.