Rina Bali and Nicole Joe dress in traditional indian garb to celebrate Diwali. (Kristi Jut photo)

Kwantlen’s Richmond campus held the Diwali festival in the rotunda on Thursday, Oct. 15.

Diwali, which is most commonly known as the festival of lights, is celebrated by several Indian religions. It is usually colourful and sometimes incorporates fireworks and gift-giving.

KSA members and Human Resources students Nicole Joe and Rina Bali were just two of several volunteers giving out free samosas and bundi, a dough and sugar based Indian candy at the Richmond celebration.

“For some calendars [Diwali] also starts out a new year,” said Bali.

But why is it important for Kwantlen, specifically, to hold a Diwali celebration? “It’s a good way to increase ethnic diversity on campus,” said Bali, “and it creates awareness [about Diwali].”

Bundi is a dough and sugar based sweet from India (Kristi Jut photo)