OCR Text |
Show l'IMIIMEIREROPNVF Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2011 Page 4 AggieLife Utah State University • Logan, Utah • www.utahstatesman.com ‘ r,i9htin9 up BY MACKENZI VAN ENGELENHOVEN staff writer When traveling to a new country to attend school, international students are bound to run into some cultural differences. People may not speak the same language, eat the same food or even celebrate the same holidays. For many of USU's almost 200 international students from India, the cultural transition from southern Asia to the western United States can be a difficult one. "We miss home a lot," said Pooja Kavathekar, a master's student studying electrical engineering who hails from Maharashtra, India. To help students from India feel more comfortable in Logan, a nonprofit organization on campus called the Indian Student Association hosts traditional Indian celebrations so Indian students can celebrate holidays they are familiar with. These events, Kavathekar said, are open to all interested USU students of any nationality. "We try to celebrate all the big Indians' festivals, because we miss a lot of them while we're here," Kavathekar said. "It's a way to make the Indian students feel more at home." This Saturday will mark the ISA's 11th annual Diwali celebration. According to Kavathekar, Diwali, popularly known as the Festival of Lights, is an important festival for Hindus, Sikhs and Jains. "The main concept behind the festival is the triumph of good over evil," she said. Chris Haskett, professor of religious studies at USU, said the name Diwali derives from Sanskrit and refers to shining, lamps, light and other images of luminescence. The word roughly translates to "the festival of the lamped," Haskett said. This was inspired by the lighting of small clay lamps that are eA,VA with Ouija', tradition placed throughout the home, he said. "For Hindus, Diwali celebrates the return of the Sultan Rama to his kingdom," said Palak Vasudeva, a master's student from Dehradun, India, studying environmental engineering. "The people in his kingdom were really happy he was coming back, so they lit up the whole town with little clay lanterns to light his path home, which is why it's called the festival of lights." Haskett said Diwali is one day of a larger celebration that marks the end of the financial year for Hindus. He said it is a holiday about starting off fresh and making everything clean and new. "It is new year, and the end of the fiscal year," Haskett said. "Businessmen in particular celebrate it. They put the old books away, and spend the night gambling. Then the next day, they open new books, and bless them to Shri and Ganesha, who are the lords of prosperity and overcoming obstacles." Diwali is celebrated in India with prayer, Haskett said, by groups of family and friends. "Most business owners will decorate with marigolds and strings of lights," he said. "People will also make a picture of a footprint outside their door which shows Luckshim, the goddess of prosperity, the way to come into the house to bless them for the coming year." Celebrators kick off the festivities with a variety of traditional Indian foods, shared with family and friends. "There are sweets distributed," Vasduvera said. "And there's good food at home, new clothes and special things like that." Diwali is another holiday that involves lighting fireworks to light up the sky, he said. "The first time I saw Diwali celebrated, I came home that night and there was a dank yellow fog hanging thick over Delhi from all of the fireworks," Haskett said. DANCERS RAISE THEIR PALMS in the Bhangra Dance at last year's Diwali Festival. The dance represents the state of Punjab, India, which brings its culture to USU. Statesman file photo "We have Indian food, dance, and a rock show by the Indian students, so it's basically just a fun evening for everyone," Vasudeva said. "They get together and see good performances and eat good food. And (visitors) also get to learn about Indian culture and why Diwali is celebrated. "Students of every background should come," Vasudeva added. "You don't have to be Indian or know about Diwali to be part. It's also about learning." The Diwali celebration is Oct. 22 at 6:30 pm. Tickets cost $16 and include traditional Indian food and entertainment. The first 100 students who arrive will also receive a free Bollywood dance lesson. - m.van911@aggiemail.usu.edu Figuring out figure drawing BY AUDREY MOULTON staff writer JERRY AND SHERYL SPRIET have been volunteers at the American West Heritage Center since March. The center hosts harvest activities in addition to those geared toward Halloween. DELAYNE LOCKE photo A cauldron full of tricks and treats BY WES KING staff writer The American West Heritage Center in Wellsville has adopted the slogan "keeping history alive," but history is not the only thing "alive" this fall season as the center hosts its Hanted Hollow. Lurking about the AWHC's grounds are ghosts, zombies, witches, skeletons and even the Demon Barber of Fleet Street Sweeney Todd, ready to shave patrons in his barber chair. On a given night, children scream while riding on the train circling the middle of the grounds; parents watch their little ones ride the ponies and even AWHC volunteers seem to enjoy themselves. "It's like living in the West — living my dream," said volunteer Jerry Spriet, who dresses as a period settler. In appearance the center certainly lives up to its western theme, according to Spriet. There are trapper exhibits, artifacts, dioramas and even a quilt raffle. Two horse-drawn carriages travel around the grounds, which also add to the western feel. "It's total fun for the whole family," Spriet said. The center also has a corn maze, a ropes course and a western village that includes a kettle corn shop. The center, formerly a fully functioning farm, is still filled with animals. There are cows, chickens, horses, goats and ponies. In the spring time newborn animals are on exhibit for visitors to see. "Thousands of people come to see the baby animals," Spriet said. For Halloween, animals of another kind provide the public with entertainment. Throughout the season, the Haunted Hollow opens at 7 p.m. to allow younger children a less disturbing version of the fright fest. Then, after warming up, the creepers and give the fullfrightenexperience, starting at 7:30. The hollow is filled with cages, dungeons, cauldrons, pits of bones and a fog-filled graveyard. The secluded environment among the trees only heightens the spooky atmosphere. Guests should be prepared for run-ins with historical figures such as Lizzy Borden and Jack the Ripper. The Haunted Hollow is awesome," said USU freshman Kim Baker, who is majoring in animal science. "The characters are really *)See HARVESTING, Page 6 People come in many different colors, shapes and sizes. Often this can be a state of controversy, but every Wednesday night it is something celebrated by artists at USU. The Art Guild has joined forces with Marita Jackson, a senior studying art and the director of figure drawing classes, to form weekly figure drawing sessions in the Fine Arts Visual Building. From 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. in FAV Room 209, students and members of the community are invited to bring art supplies and practice drawing the human figure. "It's a good exercise for artists to understand the human body," said Heather Mahler, a junior studying art education. Mahler is also the vice president of the guild. She said artists come to paint, draw and even sculpt the models, practicing natural positions such as sitting and standing. "It's a one-night event that takes place in the Painting and Drawing Studio where everyone in the club and community is invited to participate in drawing a nude figure for two hours," said Jonathan Christensen, a senior art major. Christensen is another member of the Art Guild. 66 We're not teaching you how to draw. It's an exercise — not a class ." — Heather Mahler, Art Guild vice president He said he frequents the weekly sessions and is impressed by the way the sessions are run. "It's really a professional environment," Mahler said, regarding her perception of the sessions. She said participating takes a certain level of maturity, and artists who want to improve abilities and better understand how to draw the human body should attend the group meetings. However, these sessions are not designed to instruct students, she added. "We're not teaching you how to draw," Mahler said. "It's an exercise — not a class." Jackson said this style of drawing is useful for all types of artists in learning depth, dimension and many other valuable techniques. "It really helps you, not only to understand the figure, but understand forms of everything around you," Jackson said, "because the figure is made of these basic shapes that you see everywhere around you." Mahler said the group generally uses models who embody the natural human form. "Not everyone is buff and skinny. We draw many different *See MATURITY, Page 5 |