On Sept. 26, Trinity’s South Asian Student Association (SASA) and Chapel and Student Life will collaborate in hosting the fifth annual Navratri event on the Intramural Field from 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. The event celebrates the nine-night Hindu festival and will feature performances and celebrations as SASA’s first event of the semester. Among the attractions are various traditional South Asian foods such as pani puri and gulab jamun, a live showcase of the traditional Garba style of line dancing and traditional South Asian attire like Chaniya Cholis and Kurta Pajamas.
Celebrated mainly in honor of the Hindu goddess Durga, Navratri observers typically spend nine nights and 10 days celebrating the Goddess and the victory of good over evil. The holiday is an important and sacred day for Hindus worldwide. Historically, Navratri’s vibrant displays of traditional music and provided food has brought in students from across campus.
Several SASA officers said they were looking forward to this opportunity to showcase Indian culture and tradition to the wider Trinity community through their own eyes. Kavni Maniar, junior biology major and SASA president, reflected on growing up with the festivities.
“Growing up, this was the festival I looked forward to,” Maniar said. “For people from the state of Gujarat in India, where I’m from, this is what we look forward to all year. We learn new dances, get new outfits, so this really means a lot to me.”
Leading up to the event itself, several other SASA members were involved with coordination and advertising. Nirvan Pithadia, sophomore biochemistry and molecular biology major and SASA social chair, spent time getting flyers over dorms to engage first years. Pithadia said he cared about getting the traditional Garba dancing set up because of his upbringing.
“Everyone is welcome to Navatri, experience our culture and learn some Garba,” Pithadia said. “I hope people are able to discover what I loved in dancing, that we can help other people find the same love for these that I did when I was little.”
Setting up the event, coordinating supplies and time slots had an impact on some active members. SASA members talked about how taking charge themselves helped to discover a whole new level of passion and community. Aishani Parihar, junior psychology major and SASA secretary, reflected on the Trinity community’s impact on the holiday and how it has changed her perception of her background and the celebration itself.
“Back at home, I didn’t really celebrate Navratri. I think coming here and doing it with friends brings a new connection to it,” Parihar said. “Now I’m actually planning for it, figuring out what food to get and how to arrange prayer and everything. I’m really happy to have that sense of it, and I think my parents would be proud of me for doing that too.”
The members of SASA’s leadership team said they hope that the event can serve as a form of enjoyable entertainment and spectacle for audiences but also to educate and present cultural exchange. They said that Navratri serves as a way to introduce South Asian culture and bridge cultural gaps in a manner that can give students a better understanding of their peers. Additionally, the holiday serves as a gateway leading up to the other notable events SASA will be holding throughout the year, such as Diwali, which will begin within a month between Oct. 17 – 22.
