On October 15, the South Asian Law Student Association (SALSA) teamed up with Georgetown, American, and Catholic University Law Schools to throw its annual Diwali Banquet, celebrating the Indian festival of lights.  The Diwali Banquet is one way that SALSA introduces the GW community to the Indian culture through this Indian holiday.  Additionally, it is a means for the GW community and other South Asians in D.C. to come together and celebrate.

To Puja Bhatia, the President of SALSA, Diwali itself is "a vibrant celebration of the Indian culture" as the time "has always been a special celebration for [her] family."  To Thara Russell, the GW liaison to the South Asian Bar Association, "Diwali itself has religious meaning, but it's also a festival full of celebration-lights, fireworks, dressing up and just generally having a good time."  She describes the banquet as taking "the celebration and festivity of the holiday and turning it into a big, upbeat event early in the school year" which is something "that anyone can relate to, Indian or not."

This year, the banquet had over 150 attendees, over a third of whom were not SALSA members.  Puja describes the event as a success with on overall positive response.  Guests enjoyed appetizers, dinner, and dancing.  At one point during the banquet, students from American University's Law School performed playing the guitar and keyboard, which inevitably led to dancing.  Throughout the night, the DJ played what Puja described as "a great blend" of music, including Indian Bhangra, Bollywood, Hip-Hop, and Pop music.

If you did not attend the banquet this year, you missed out.   Not only was there a display of the cultural background through the South Asian clothing, food and music, but the general atmosphere was one where people had the opportunity to dress up, let loose, and (thankfully) step away from the all-encompassing world of law school even if just for one night.