Projected images of mosques excentuated the powerful performance of the Muslim call to prayer as this performance began the University’s celebration of the many types of religion.
On Wednesday in the Memorial Chapel, students took a break from the stresses of both studying and activism alike to attend the fourteenth annual Festival of Lights, a nondenominational holiday celebration organized by University Chaplains Louis Manzo, Gary Comstock, Abdullah Antepli, and David Leipziger.
The event began with New Haven resident Goksavan Yilmaz singing the Muslim Call to Prayer known as the Athan.
“I think it was very fitting to start with the call to prayer, it invited people to celebrate together,” Antepli said, who is the University’s first Muslim chaplain.
Maya Bery ’08 then gave a brief presentation on the Hindu holiday of Diwali after which Anand Venkatachalam ’08 performed the Dance of Lord Rama. Venkatachalam told an abridged version of the story behind Diwali in the form of dance, facial gestures and hand signs known as mudras.
“He had incredibly expressive hands,” said Lauren Ogden ’07.
After this, the Wesleyan Spirits performed an a cappella version of “Prayer of the Children.”
“They were really good,” said Ellen Davis ’07. “I have a friend in the group so I’m sort of obliged to go see them, but they’re really good.”
Lodro Rinzler ’05 spoke briefly about meditation in Buddhism and led a short group meditation. Seth Davis ’06 then spoke about peace and compassion within the framework of Buddhism.
Zach Lazarus ’06 explained the origin of Hannukah after which Rachel Stone ’05 spoke on the revolutionary spirit of the holiday and noted the appropriateness of the mass student mobilization on Tuesday occurring as the sun set on the first night of Hannukah. They then lit the menorah for the second night of Hannukah.
Leipziger, the Jewish chaplain, later said the event was important in relation to the recent student mobilization.
“The timing was perfect,” he said. “In the past few days we’ve seen a lot of intensity and anger and passion. This event was a way for people to come together and share something positive.”
The Environmental Organizer’s Network had prepared a short presentation on the pagan celebration of Winter Solstice, which included a surreal poetry performance by Owen O’Connor ’07 and a performance of the song “All Soul’s Night” by The New Group.
Next, Vlad Petit-Frere ’05 explained the origin of Kwanzaa before lighting the kinara. Afterwards, Randy Vesprey ’07 and Azeb Gebre ’07 introduced a multimedia presentation they created called: “Reflections on Wesleyan Students Living Out the Principles of Kwanzaa Throughout the Year.”
“I don’t celebrate Kwanzaa,” Vesprey later admitted. “I don’t know anyone on campus who does, so we decided to make our presentation about the principles of Kwanzaa and utilizing them every day… I think this is an important event for the community because it stresses the fact that we all share similar values. Each religion seems to ask us to act in certain ways but they’re all human ways.”
This year was the first time Festival of Lights had included performances.
“Before it was sort of just a candle ceremony,” Manzo said, the Catholic Chaplain. “Someone would get up and give some general information and we would light a candle. But now we have these new facilities, good technology, this nice stage, and I thought we should really take advantage of our resources.”
Namrata Kotwani ’06 believes that this new format worked well.
“The performances were very haunting and peaceful,” Kotwani said, “It was really great to have this right as classes end. It was a serene contrast to things that have been going on lately on campus.”
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