Diwali celebration asks: “What is your light?”

The South Asian Medical Student Association (SAMSA) held its annual Diwali celebration on Friday, Nov. 15. The festival of lights was celebrated with a sold-out crowd of more than 200 students, faculty and family members, with dinner, performances and an open dance floor until 10 p.m.

Diwali celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, serving as an opportunity for the campus community to come together and celebrate connections and build new relationships. It has been a highlight event for years at NEOMED.

This year, keynote speaker and NEOMED M4 director Rupesh Raina, M.D., provided remarks about the importance of Diwali in Indian culture and expressed heartfelt thanks to students, faculty and staff for coming together and making the event a success.

When asked about the event, he said “Diwali at NEOMED is an incredible opportunity for our students and faculty to celebrate Indian heritage and culture and build stronger relationships. I am proud to be a sponsor and supporter of this tradition that has brought our community together for years and continues to be a hallmark event for our school.”

Co-presidents Meera Nair and Rahul Kumar, alongside vice president Prathamesh Ingale, worked with Diwali chairs Adi Sreenivas and Devendra Patel and the larger SAMSA leadership team to facilitate food, dance performances and event planning to make sure Diwali was a resounding success.

Activities included Henna and Caroms, centered around the night’s theme of “What is your Light?” M1, M2 and M3 students planned dance choreography and singing performances with Bollywood music and traditional clothing, creating a vibrant and diverse showcase of Indian culture and student talents. After dinner and a group picture, the dance floor was open, with all joining to enjoy the lively atmosphere of music, dance and shared cultural experiences.

When asked about his first experience at Diwali, M1 Jeremy Dang commented, “Diwali was an amazing event for me to spend time with my friends and learn more about Indian culture. It was an honor to meet Dr. Raina and hear his Diwali keynote address; and the food, performances and dance opportunities made the night unforgettable. I am looking forward to attending next year and want to thank SAMSA, Dr. Raina and NEOMED for making such an event possible!”

The leadership of SAMSA and NEOMED’s continued faculty support of student events contributed to this year’s record-breaking Diwali celebration. We are excited to continue this annual tradition for years to come.

– submitted by Meera Nair, M2

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