‘India Can Be Very Colourful and Festive’
HSE University's Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs hosted a celebration of the Indian holiday Diwali, which symbolises the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. Guests were immersed in the authentic atmosphere of India, learning about Diwali’s traditions and symbols, participating in national dances, and taking part in mehendi workshops, rangoli art with rice, and paper lanterns making. The event was organised as part of the ‘Holidays of the Peoples of the East’ project.
Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is observed by Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs. Celebrations include lighting oil lamps (diyas), candles, and lanterns, setting off fireworks, and preparing traditional sweets. It is a time for people to visit their relatives and celebrate together.
According to Olga Kharina, Researcher at the Centre for Comprehensive European and International Studies (CCEIS) and Associate Professor at the School of Asian Studies, the university had intended to host a Diwali festival since last year. She explained that the holiday is widely celebrated in India, and HSE University strives to respect and honour the traditions of different nations.
‘India is a very important country for us. We want to draw more attention to it, because, unfortunately, there are still very few Indologists; there are simply not enough of them. An event like this also broadens people’s horizons and helps them learn more about the world. India can be very colourful and festive,’ Olga Kharina said.
One of the evening’s highlights was a Bharatanatyam dance performance by Galina Skiba, a first-year student of the Asian and African Studies programme. Through her movements, she not only told a story but also demonstrated the basic symbols used in India.
‘Bharatanatyam is one of the eight classical dances. India has both folk and classical dances. The latter dates back to an earlier period and is based on ancient treatises. The Natyashastra, a treatise written in the 5th century BC, is the foundational text for bharatanatyam,’ explained Galina Skiba.
Guests were impressed by the festival. Antonina Sineok, a first-year student of the Asian and African Studies programme, remarked on the wonderful atmosphere. ‘All this allows you to learn more about culture and expand your knowledge. When you read literature, you encounter many references to Indian mythology. Thanks to such events, you begin to understand what is really happening in other countries and what Eastern culture and wisdom represent,’ she noted.
Polina Galieva, a first-year student of the Law programme, was quite familiar with Indian culture; she was curious to see how the university would organise a large celebration. ‘The atmosphere here is really energetic,’ she said. ‘Most importantly, I want to get mehendi done, and tomorrow I’ll go to my exam with painted hands.’
Many attendees wanted mehendi that evening, including Daniel Astudiyo, a first-year student of the Information Science and Computation Technology programme. ‘I really love Indian culture, but I still learned a lot of new things here. It truly immerses you in the culture. For most people, Indian culture remains unexplored; they know nothing about it. This is a great way to broaden your horizons and potentially delve deeper into the topic,’ Daniel shared.
Aleksandra Levenets, a first-year student of the Asian and African Studies programme, did not expect the event to be so exciting. ‘I really enjoyed the dance; it was just amazing,’ she said appreciatively. ‘This is a great opportunity to make new acquaintances and try out interesting activities.’
The evening concluded with a friendly tea party where guests discussed the unique aspects of Indian culture.
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