Tara SimmsThe California Aggie University of California at Davis
DAVIS, Calif.?Freeborn Hall was immersed in the sights and sounds of Indian culture on Sunday night during the ninth annual India Night, presented by the Indian Student Association.
The program “intend[s] to showcase the diversity of Indian cultures that [University of California-Davis] has to offer,” said ISA co-president Ranil Piyaratna.
The show displayed several traditional and modern dances, a fashion show, comical skits and an instrumental act. The 13 acts, representative of different parts of India, entertained more than 900 attendees. From the celebration arose a more serious undertone centered around this year’s title and theme: Ekta.
Ekta means “unity” in Sanskrit. According to ISA secretary Sidharth Kaw, Sanskrit, the root of over 15 languages in India, serves as the foundation of South Asian unity. Organizers of India Night said they chose the theme for a variety of reasons.
“[Within India] each state is very different from the next, [having] their own marriage rituals, dances and customs,” Sanjay Paul, ISA treasurer and event coordinator said.
Kaw said that with both the Sept. 11 attacks and current communal violence in India between Hindus and Muslims, primarily in the state of Gujarat, the program aimed to send the message of unity to UCD.
In her opening message, Jasmine Bhuva, ISA co-president, described unity and diversity as being measured by the diversity of dialogue created when people come together, rather than by race.
Setting the stage adorned in shimmering fabric and jewels, the UCD Giddha team performed a lively dance composed of hand gestures, feet movements and acting.
Entertainment went from traditional dance?such as the Bharatnatym, a graceful dance of South India which dates back thousands of years?to a fashion show and hip-hop and movie dances, which all featured modern music and movements. The UCD women’s Bhangra team, which placed second at the 2002 Bhangra by the Bay competition, performed an energetic folk dance that originated in the Northern Indian region of Punjab.
The ancient Diya?or candle?dance is a religious piece set to a patriotic song. The dancers held small flashlights in place of candles, in accordance with a Freeborn Hall fire policy, and performed in the dark with choreographed hand movements. At one point, all of the “candles” went out and came back on to spell out UCD.
U Wire