Trinity College Lights Up with Diwali Celebrations Hosted by SASA

Iqra Athar ’26

News Editor

On Nov. 9, Trinity College’s South Asian Student Association (SASA) hosted its annual Diwali celebration in the Washington Room, adorned with floral decorations featuring marigolds, diyas (oil lamps), candles and a front-stage display of rangoli — an Indian art form. Approximately 200 attendees, including students and faculty, gathered for an evening that highlighted the Hindu festival of lights with traditional performances, culinary delights and a new performance put on by freshmen representatives who also handled scriptwriting and voice acting.

The evening began at 5:30 p.m. with a puppet show, narrating the tale of Ramayana, the story behind Diwali. Following the puppet show, attendees were treated to a variety of South Asian foods, ranging from appetizers like momos to main dishes such as butter chicken, vegetable biryani and channa masala. Desserts included gulab jamun and drinks like mango lassi were served. This was followed by a Diwali-themed Kahoot and performances showcasing South Indian and Nepali dances and Bengali songs, highlighting the diversity within the South Asian community. During the event, SASA also collected donations for Doctors Without Borders to support aid efforts in Lebanon.

Daniya Ali ’25, co-president of SASA, in conversation with the Tripod, shared the importance of Diwali: “Celebrating Diwali at Trinity College is essential for creating a sense of community for our international students, particularly those who are far from home during such a significant festival. It’s about making Trinity a home away from home.” Ali highlighted that the event received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with turnout exceeding expectations. “The energy was so high that nobody wanted the event to end,” she added. The henna stall was especially popular, with the artist extending her hours to accommodate the high demand. The venue also featured a designed photo area with a Diwali balloon banner and colorful umbrellas, attracting many attendees for group photos.

Tulsi Patel ’25, another co-president of SASA, reflected on the personal significance of the event: “Hosting Diwali is about celebrating my American Indian identity and sharing our rich culture with the campus community. It’s vital for South Asian students to feel seen and for others to learn about and engage with our traditions.” She noted the excitement the event generates among the student body: “People are always looking forward to it, asking me when it is going to be. I have my non-South Asian friends asking me for outfits to dress up in; it’s very anticipated, which makes it so special.”

Patel further emphasized the inclusivity of the event: “This year’s Diwali celebration not only introduced new elements like the puppet show but also reinforced our commitment to cultural inclusivity through various performances that integrated people of different groups. We also want to make sure that we are showcasing as many cultures and traditions within South Asia, so having our henna stall is one way to do that, which is a very anticipated aspect of Diwali. All of the new additions that we had this year, such as the after-party, the UG sip and paint and the puppet show, were all possible due to the amazing ideas of our E-board members.” She continued, “Looking ahead, we are excited about hosting our next cultural events such as Eid and Holi, which we believe will continue to foster this spirit of inclusivity and celebration within our community.”

The festivities concluded with a Diwali After Party at The Mill, featuring DJ Dizzie who played Bollywood beats well into the night. Earlier in the week, SASA also hosted diya decorating sessions and introduced special drinks at the TrinUG Coffee, available from Nov. 4 to Nov. 9, including flavors like pistachio, rose chai, rooh afza and nimbu paani.