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Diversions
India Night enlightens SCSU
By Joe Palmersheim
Published:
Monday, November 4, 2002
Media Credit: Adam Masloski
Amruta Supekar performs on Saturday night in the Atwood ballroom. Supekar�s performance was entitled the dance of Shakti and was one of many that a packed audience enjoyed as the Indian Heritage Club presented Shradhanjali: A tribute to Indian women.
Tassels, dancing and food highlighted India Night Saturday night in the Atwood Ballroom.
This year's theme was "Shradhanjali- a Tribute to Indian Women." The festivities started with a rendition of the Indian National anthem, followed by speeches by Vijay Kumar, president of the Indian Heritage Club, and Sneh Kalia, faculty advisor of the Indian Heritage Club. The Indian Heritage Club puts on an India night every year, and these festivals have proven to be popular in the past.
This year's event was no exception.
"I'd say that attendance would have to be at least 475. The tables can seat 350, but there are a lot of people standing against the walls as well," said Rishi Mehta, SCSU freshman and member of the Indian Heritage Club.
After the speeches concluded, the dancers arrived. The first dance was the Dance of Shakti and the next was the Dola Re. Indian dance is a highly regarded art form that involves high choreography and trance-inducing music. The style of these dances is traditional, meaning the music is traditional Indian dance music, which makes heavy use of both fast rhythm and instruments such as the sitar.
After the first two dancers, dinner was served. Indian food is famous all around the world and the crowd waited in lines that stretched across the ballroom. The food was served by a line of eight or so people at the table, that, although swamped with people, remained both courteous and quick to smile. The menu for this evening consisted of Malai Chicken (butter chicken), Vegetable Pulao (rice and vegetables), Aloo Methi (potatoes with spices), Dal Makhani (lentils), Roti (pita bread), Ras Malai (ricotta cheese), served with a choice of lemonade or ice water.
The festival kicked into high gear after dinner with lots of Indian dancing and music. There was also a video presentation in between the first dance and the musical drama.
The dancing seemed especially appropriate given this year's theme of celebrating Indian Women.
"So far, it's good. I think the dancing sets a good tone in regards to the over-all theme," said Xakk Gilder, SCSU Alumni.
The evening closed with a performance of traditional Indian music and a fashion show, both of which went over well with the audience.
Nights such as these, while entertaining, serve a greater purpose by making foreign cultures seem not so foreign to us. This is important, especially in an age of global markets.
Evenings like this also broaden our horizons by making us try new things and look at things with a new point of view. India Night was a great success, and those who did not attend missed out on something that was both fun and entertaining.
