The UC Santa Barbara chapter of Hindu YUVA hosted a Diwali celebration on Oct. 23, a day after the completion of the holiday’s five-day festival. 

During the event, conversation filled the air as students decorated diyas. Courtesy of Neela Iyer

According to the Hindu American Foundation, in the Hindu tradition, Diwali is the celebration of the victory of good forces over evil, with traditions varying from region to region. Hindu YUVA (Youth for Unity, Virtues, and Action) is an organization with chapters across North America that creates programming for college-age Hindus and provides them with a faith-based community. According to their website, they aim to “share the values and teachings of Hindu Dharma,” or the “Hindu way of life.” 

During the event, conversation filled the air as students decorated diyas, small clay lamps that are lit on Diwali to symbolize the triumph of light over darkness. Attendees also listened to cultural music and snacked on samosas. Some club members noted that building a community around their cultural identity is very important in their daily lives.

“We try to do as many activities [as we can] to bring us closer to Hindu culture,” third-year chemical engineering major and Vice President of Hindu YUVA at UCSB Samruddhi Gulgunje said.

First-year writing and literature major Sareena Kumar said that these events are helpful in a large school environment.

“You can find a good group of people who you can connect with through culture,” Kumar said.

In addition to helping Hindu college students find a sense of community and belonging through shared traditions, Hindu YUVA also plays a role in broader Hindu acceptance. The organization works to “raise awareness about Hinduphobia in the US” and advocate for the “protection of rights of Hindu communities” across the globe. 

“You want to find your group of people — your little family — when you’re so far away,”  first-year biochemistry major Shruthi Seluka said. “I thought it was pretty cool.”

A version of this article appeared on p.5  of the Oct. 30 print edition of the Daily Nexus.