Students of all ages and backgrounds gathered around a "kirtan call-and-response band" in the HUB-Robeson Center, Wednesday night.

Music from the Penn State Vedic Society cultural festival on the second floor could be heard throughout the HUB, drawing students of all types into Heritage Hall. As various musicians played, a singer called out and the audience responded.

Students listened to the music as they clapped, sang and swayed along.

"Every person experiences the draw and energy," said Vidhya Aravamuthan, one of the advisers for the Vedic Society.

The festival, called "Krishna Janmashtami," was held to attract new members and to "let the students get a peek into mantra meditation," she said.

The student group currently has about 20 members and aims to deal with stress through mantra meditation and a proper vegetarian diet.

"It's a society people should visit to relax and improve concentration, make good friends and experience Indian culture," said member Swetha Ganeshan (graduate-material science and engineering).

People feel stress because their mind wanders, Aravamuthan said.

"Mantra meditation closes the mind and channels energy in a positive way," she said.

The group believes food is also important when dealing with stress. When it is cooked in proper consciousness it helps consciousness, work and relationships, she said.

Setareh Davoudzadeh (senior-international politics) attended the event to learn about Indian culture.

Davoudzadeh is a vegetarian and is considering joining the Vedic Society.

"I live in an apartment, so I make beans, pasta, vegetables and fruit," she said.

Food is never an issue, Ganeshan said.

"We help each other with cooking," she said.

Some members joined the society for the cultural experience, while others just wanted to make friends.

"Members of the group were friendly," she said. "They welcomed me very well."

Since joining in 2006, the group means more to Ganeshan.

"Even though I'm away from my family [in India], I have no homesickness. For people away from home this is like family."

The Penn State Vedic Society will hold events throughout the year. A two-day mantra yoga retreat will be held Sept. 5- 7 in the woods of Port Royal, according to a brochure for the event.

The retreat will combine hatha yoga, prahayama, mantra yoga, kirtan yoga and vegetarianism.

Students can register for the event at its Web site clubs.psu.edu/up/vedicsociety/psvs.html.