University of Nevada-Reno (UNR) in USA is celebrating “Diwali Utsav” on October 30, 2011.
Hindu statesman Rajan Zed will open the Utsav (festival) with prayers and lamp-lighting while famous musician Jim Eaglesmith will lead a bhajan with guitar and the audience will chant after him.
According to Dharshini Balasubramaniyan, President of Utsav organizer Indian Student Organization of UNR, this Utsav lasting for about four hours with few hundred participants, will include Bollywood-folk-classical Indian dances, Indian fashion show, songs, music and specially prepared Indian vegetarian dinner, and shall conclude with a community dance.
Besides entertainment and good time, the purpose of this Utsav is also to keep the culture intact and to showcase it to other Americans, Balasubramaniyan, who is Graduate Research Assistant at UNR’s Renewable Energy Center, adds. Besides community and students, many elected and other leaders are also expected to attend.
Diwali, the festival of lights, is the most popular Hindu festival and aims at dispelling the darkness and lighting up the lives and symbolizes the victory of good over evil.
Founded in 1874, internationally acclaimed UNR besides other areas is also known for its earthquake expertise, its researchers helping to create the world’s most accurate atomic clock, and as the setting of many Hollywood films. It has currently about 18,000 students and Marc Johnson is the Interim President.