HinduYUVA at the University of Texas at Dallas hosted its annual Diwali celebration Thursday, Oct. 23 at the Student Services Addition Auditorium, bringing together students and community members to celebrate the festival of lights with music, food and traditional festivities.
Diwali, one of the most widely celebrated festivals in India, symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. Observed by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists around the world, the holiday is known for its colorful decorations, diya lamps and gatherings that emphasize family and community.
This year’s event featured traditional dances, music performances and a diya-lighting ceremony. Attendees also enjoyed a variety of Indian dishes and sweets served by volunteers after the main program.
HinduYUVA, which stands for Hindu Youth for Unity, Virtue, and Action, is a student organization dedicated to preserving and sharing Hindu culture, heritage, and values on campus. The group hosts religious, cultural and educational programs to promote unity among students while creating opportunities for interfaith dialogue.
“Tonight was a coming together of divine people… a union of people who wanted to feel proud of their identity, celebrate, dance, eat good food and just be together,” said Mayuresh Mhaskar, president of HinduYUVA at UT Dallas.
Many students in attendance said the celebration offered a meaningful connection to home and culture. “One of the biggest beliefs in Hinduism is that we’re all divine and part of one big family… events like these ensure that students can celebrate identity while keeping these values alive,” said Mhaskar. “Being here with HinduYUVA gives me a lot of hope… these values are continuing, maybe in a different form, but they’re still held strongly together.”
HinduYUVA has hosted Diwali celebrations at UT Dallas since 2023, and the event has varied in size and participation each year. The group aims to unite Hindu youth on college campuses, providing opportunities for students, staff and faculty members to understand and practice the Hindu dharma.
The event concluded in Chess Plaza, with a drum ceremony by Shivam Dhol Tash Patak, photo booth and food, marking the end of an evening centered on unity, culture, and light.
Anti-Imperialist • Nov 13, 2025 at 12:10 am
Is it in the best interest of the campus to be promoting events from Hinduyuva when they are openly sponsoring speakers who promote topics like religious violence and extreme racial prejudice through groups like the RSS?