The everyone’s favorite Diwali Season is here. The realization strikes us with the transforming weather, the weather when it’s too hot for full sleeves and too cold for half sleeves. It again strikes us when we are passing through the streets of our city and hear the sounds of “Ram-Leela” taking place somewhere in the city. Soon, we’ll see effigies of Raavan getting prepared for Dussehra. Students from different religious backgrounds and cultures living at LPU celebrate all the festivals with the same exuberance. Recently, a prestigious newspaper, “Dainik Jagran” gave a special coverage about how different festivals are celebrated at LPU.
Students from over 50+ countries study at LPU. Besides international students, LPU is also home to students from different parts of India. The newspaper mentions what Assistant Professor Misbah Bashir, who is also an alumna of LPU says about her time spent here as a student. She remembers how her roommate used to take care of her during her fast by not letting her work too much and by not eating lunch outside. Misbah also mentions her roommate visiting her home in Kashmir while her roommate was keeping Navratra Fasts and Misbah served her with the special Zeera Aloo for her fast.
Another student from Yemen, Mohammad Jamal, a B.Tech student is also quoted by the newspaper saying that he has been here for last three years and he enjoys celebrating festivals like Diwali and Holi.
A student from Andhra Pradesh said that he found it difficult to overcome the language barrier in the beginning, however, he now enjoys celebrating the festivals of different cultures and also says that it is important to understand the different cultures, so people can work together as a team.
Students and faculty from different cultures and ethnicities continue to thrive together while understanding as well as enjoying each other’s cultures and ethnic diversity at LPU is likely to expand in the years to come.
