Every autumn, Hindus throughout the world celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Light. Observed on the darkest new moon of the Hindu month Kartik, it is a celebration of spiritual significance. People light diyas, lamps, and candles or shoot off fireworks in celebration of the triumph of light over darkness and everything that stands for – good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair.
On October 29th IU East will hold a Diwali Festival, starting with a symbolic candle lighting ceremony presided over by Chancellor Kathy Cruz-Uribe, and professors Parul Khurana and Hitesh Kathuria. The food, music, and fellowship begin at 5:30 in Whitewater Hall – you can RSVP with Dr. Kathuria at 765-973-8247 or hikathur@iue.edu.
If you are new to Indian culture, the library has lots of helpful resources. You might want to start with books, including tiles like India: The Emerging Giant by Arvind Panagariya, History of India by Burton Stein, India Society and Culture, More than Real: A History of the Imagination in South India by David Shulman, or Culture and Customs of India by Carol Henderson. Want articles? Try these searching in many of our major databases. There are even videos available like The Indian Subcontinent.
So whether you want to learn a little information about a new culture or study in depth, the library is a place where you can find your light. And if you have any questions, contact us at iueref@iue.edu!