When Anuradha Mangalgiri (sophomore-aerospace engineering) left India to come to Penn State, it was the first time she had ever been outside the country. A year later, Mongalgiri says she still misses India but enjoys opportunities to connect with her culture.

Last night's Diwali celebration was one such opportunity. About 30 people were present at the Hindu Student Council's celebration of Diwali, also known as the Hindu New Year or Festival of Lights, held in Pollock Commons. Co-president Sejal Vyas said the five-day celebration began on Oct. 21 this year.

"Diwali begins on a different day ever year because it follows the Hindu calendar, which is a lunar calendar," she said.

Mangalgiri said she celebrated Diwali every year at home in India. "To celebrate, we usually make rangolis, pray to the goddess Lakshmi, decorate and clean our houses, and light lots of candles," Mangalgiri said, adding, "Diwali means an array of lights."

Diwali celebrations vary from region to region in India, but making designs known as rangolis are traditionally part of the festivities

"We take colored sand or colored rice and use our hands to make designs on the floor," said Vyas.

In some areas, rangolis are made every day to adorn the outside of a family's house, but are more elaborate on holidays.

"In southern India the women get up at 4, take baths, pray and make rangoli," Mangalgiri said. "They do it every day, but usually just with chalk and not colored sand."

While sitar music played in the background, participants teamed up and carefully sketched patterns for their rangolis onto paper. They then sprinkled grains of colorful sand between the lines to create intricate geometric designs, often composed of lotus and triangle shapes.

After students finished crafting their rangolis, everyone removed their shoes and chanted prayers to the beat of a drum.

"We pray to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, for a prosperous year," Vyas said.