The intoxicating, harmonious high-pitched tones and energetic yet subtle movements of traditional Hindi music and dance filled Crowell Concert Hall on Friday, Nov. 21 during Samsara, the University’s annual South Asian cultural showcase. An opportunity to filter South Asian cultural traditions through various artistic mediums, the event reflected the pride of the South Asian student community and looked to provide audience members with a deeper appreciation for the cultural heritages highlighted in the show.

“We would want people to become more aware and interested in South Asian culture,” said Amy Chandra ’11. “By having such a show, individuals are able to express themselves in any way they would want, even if they aren’t South Asian. It allows for people to look past the many stereotypes that they know of, and actually see South Asian’s for who they are, what they believe and what they contribute to society.”

The event’s structure somewhat recalled the ecleticism of a Bollywood movie, with catchy music that wove together song-and-dance numbers, a puppet show, spoken word pieces and a fashion show. Many participants dressed in the traditional costumes distinctive to various regions of South Asia: colorful, graceful outfits that included headdresses, long, flowing skirts, and saris.

“It was a dream,” said audience member Sofia Leitner-Laserna ’11 of the fashions on display.

The event benefited Free the Children, a non-governmental organization dedicated to eliminating the exploitation of children around the world through self-empowerment. Proceeds from the event will go towards adopting a village in tsunami-torn Sri Lanka, where schools and vocational programs will be built.

The show began with performers singing the various national anthems of the South Asian countries represented within the University community. The vast number of languages spoken during this opening highlighted the individuality of the people represented and lent an individual voice to each country in the group.

“No Goodbye,” a spoken-word poem by Chandra, was one of many heart-wrenching performances throughout the night. She spoke about her ailing grandmother, or badi mummy, who brought her up as a child in America. Chandra articulated the cross-cultural aspect of American life in a touching and sentimental way that was grounded in personal experience. She made clear throughout the piece that she has been able to turn pain into strength. Although her badi mummy is no longer living, Chandra carries her memory with her everywhere until they are able to meet again. Such a belief seemed to evoke the idea of samsara: the cycle of reincarnation or rebirth found in such traditionally South Asian religions as Hinduism and Buddhism.

Another strong piece of the night was the “Tagore Through Dance,” a student-choreographed dance depicting a traditional devotional poem. Dancer and University graduate student Sanchaita Daf told the story of forlorn lovers Rava and Krishna through soft hand gesticulations and graceful footwork accompanied by traditional music.

The fashion show proved to be a highlight of the evening. A diverse group of student models showed off the student-designed fashions—a first for Samsara—which blended traditional and modern South Asian styles: jeans and saris or leggings, suede boots and a sari-inspired top. A Snoop Dogg rap with Indian-inspired beats provided energetic musical accompaniment.

The event filled most of Crowell, and inspired visible reactions amongst the audience members. One could hear the hoots and hollers for the fashion show, the quiet sobbing from the emotional spoken word or the laughter from the Diwali puppet show.

“I think it’s essential to have cultural events like Samsara during the school year because it is a great to way to be exposed to different cultures;” said Jenny Chu ’11. “Also, it’s nice to see your own classmates dance, sing, or act. It gives you a different perspective of them outside of class.”