CHAMPAIGN — The hypnotic tunes of South Asian music merged with the sound of ghungroo bells, as dozens of audience members clapped and moved along with dancers Thursday night, many joining in to sing familiar South Asian tunes.
The inaugural “Celebrating South Asia” event took place at the Siebel Center for Design at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign — a joint effort between U of I cultural houses, Grainger College of Engineering and many student organizations.
This evening was vibrant, highlighting cultures of Pakistan, India, Nepal, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka through food, music and dance.
“Our strength lies in letting many identities thrive,” said Tarun Thapar, a U of I graduate student and co-organizer of the event. “It’s this beauty of letting 100 flowers bloom under one roof and see what kind of fragrance they portray.”
It was an experience for all the senses. The space filled with the smell of spicy samosas. Sounds of the stringed instrument sitar reverberated and traditional orange and gold dresses donned by the Illini Ishaara Kathak competitive dance team — captivated attendees.
The event was a unique tribute to Coke Studio, a world-renowned Pakistani annual TV music show, merging contemporary and traditional music, famous and emerging artists.
“You’ll go around and people will know what the songs are, they probably won’t know that it’s a certain singer or a certain country, but they recognize these songs,” said Syed Faizaan Ahab, a U of I graduate student and co-organizer of the event.
Art is the way to shift our focus from differences to similarities, according Thapar.
“These sorts of cultural events hold great significance, especially when we have these… times of polarization and divisiveness,” he said. “I think that’s the purpose of art… It’s all about bringing people together, going beyond the divisiveness and trying to establish that commonality.”
The event showcased performances by multiple student organizations, including the South Asian a capella group Chai Town, which performed regional hits and adaptations of popular songs like “Attention,” by Charlie Puth, translated into Hindi and Urdu.
“Our core has always been South Asian music, singing true to our roots,” said Ayaan Gul, a U of I undergraduate student and Chai Town singer. “Being at this event, it’s giving us the opportunity to really showcase South Asian culture and the traditions.”
Organizers said the event has been in the works since last spring, following the success of “Celebrating Africa”.
The U of I study body is composed of 24% international students, with over 20% coming from South Asia in 2024.
“For international students, it’s really hard to come into a culture they’re being exposed to for the first time,” Ahab said.
“So, when they find these little pockets where they can meet people from their own countries or people who are familiar in terms of culture or language, that’s something good… and everybody wants an opportunity to boost their culture.”