crowd of people throwing colored paint on Holi festival

Holi is an Indian festival of colors, and UD's Indian Graduate Student Association is hosting an event on April 27 on the North Green.

Celebrate Holi 2019

Article by Carlett Spike Photo by iStock April 26, 2019

UD Indian Graduate Student Association brings international festival to UD’s campus

For a graduate student hoping to study at a university in another country, acceptance into the program is just the first step on a long list of items to get settled. Obtaining the appropriate visas, buying plane tickets and figuring out other relocation issues are just a few examples of what needs to be sorted out before starting the degree.

Originally from India, Nikhil Gothankar’s first trip to the United States was to begin his studies as a master’s degree student at the University of Delaware. He said it was a whirlwind of experiences filled with lots of challenges.

“The first challenge was food,” Gothankar said. “You miss that home taste while in America.”

Gathankar said his adjustment was helped by many people at UD, but he was especially grateful to Indian Graduate Student Association (IGSA).

Now a second year master’s student studying computer science, Gathankar serves as the president of IGSA. The club’s mission is to serve as a resource for Indian graduate students on campus. The members do this by supporting students as they transition from India to the United States and by offering various programs and activities throughout the year to bring Indian culture to UD’s campus.

According to fall 2018 numbers from UD’s Office for International Students and Scholars (OISS), there were 166 graduate students and 18 undergraduate students from India. In all, there are 1,223 international graduate students studying at UD during the fall semester in 2018.

On Saturday, April 27, IGSA will co-host a Holi celebration with their undergrad counterparts, the Indian Student Association, on the North Green from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. A cultural event, Holi is a festival of colors traditionally celebrated in India. In addition to the signature colors, the event will also feature a live DJ, Indian food and a photo booth. Participants are encouraged to wear white to proudly display the colorful stains from the powders.

cropped view of hands with holi powder for Hindu spring festival of colours

While the various regions of India find different meanings in the festival, Holi generally signifies change.

“One of the aims of IGSA is to get the feeling of home by celebrating and doing activities which we would have done if we were in India,” said Abhishek Iyer, a graduate candidate in UD’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and former IGSA president. “The motivation behind Holi at UD is to get that feeling and spread the culture and awareness of the Indian festival among our brothers and sisters here.”

While the various regions of India find different meanings in the festival, Holi generally signifies change. The bright pink, blue, yellow and green powders mark a drastic end to the comparatively gloomy weather of winter.

Gothankar said last year’s event attracted a diverse group of about 140 people and the Center for Black Culture offered financial support for the festival. This was a very moving gesture, he said.

Gothanker also said he wants to make clear that the event is open to everyone.

“People should not hesitate to join the celebration because there is nothing religious about it,” he said. “It's open for everyone. It's just if anyone wants to have fun, enjoy the music and have food.”

In addition to Holi, IGSA’s other big event during the academic year is a Diwali festival, which is normally held during the fall semester. The group of more than 150 members, also gather throughout the semester for game nights and karaoke among other activities.

Unlike most undergraduate groups where members have to join once they come to the University, all graduate students from India become part of IGSA once they are accepted at UD. In collaboration with OISS, the club reaches out to incoming students to help them navigate through their journey to UD.

This is not unique to IGSA, said Matt Drexler, assistant director for International Student Engagement. The office and many international cultural clubs help incoming students with logistics, from arranging to pick up students at the airport to help finding housing. There is even a International Spouses and Families Organization (IFS) for dependents who have relocated to Delaware with a student.

One of OISS’ pillars is to promote international understanding, Drexler said. He applauds events like Holi and others that showcase the 101 different countries, cultures and perspectives represented on UD’s campus. This is accomplished in many ways, another example is the establishment of International Coffee Hour, an informal event for students to come together and meet new people.

“We create more chances for students to build relationships and get to know each other through a common experience,” Drexler said.

Gothankar agreed, adding the only way to overcome stereotypes and understand different cultures is by truly getting to know one another.

“People are afraid of other people just because they just don't know,” he said. “If you try to interact and get to know different cultures, you will find really a lot of similarities between different cultures and you will find out that a person you were thinking is very different, is not.”