A Celebration of Light and Culture: Diwali at UMN

A group photo of Diwali Festival at UMN with Rector of UMN, Intenational Office Team, and students (Doc. CorCom UMN)

Tangerang, (10/11/2026) – UMN’s International Office, together with UMN students and international exchange students, celebrated Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights. More than just a cultural celebration, the event brought students from different countries together to share traditions and learn more about each other’s cultures.

Diwali is a traditional celebration that originated in India and is widely known as the Festival of Lights. As part of the celebration, students also created Rangoli, a traditional art form made by decorating the floor with colorful patterns. Dr. Andrey Andoko, Rector of UMN, also joined the celebration and officially opened the Diwali Festival of Lights.

“It is wonderful to celebrate Diwali with UMN students and international exchange students. This is a great opportunity to share cultures, learn new things, and get to know traditions from different countries”, said Andrey.

Andrey hopes that through events like this, students can continue to celebrate and keep their own cultures alive, even while taking part in an exchange program in Indonesia.

Diwali celebration and Rangoli making at UMN (Doc. CorCom UMN)

“For me, Diwali is very personal. Whenever we find ourselves in darkness or going through a difficult phase in life, that darkness will eventually come to an end, and light will shine through. Diwali reminds us that we don’t have to feel down about anything happening in our lives. Whatever challenges we face, or whatever doesn’t go the way we hoped, will eventually pass too”, explained Karanpal Singh, an international exchange student from Parul University, India.

For Karanpal, celebrating Diwali at UMN was a new and memorable experience. He usually celebrates Diwali in India with his family and friends. This time, celebrating it at UMN with friends from different countries made the experience even more special.

Sharing a similar feeling, Zehra Perween, an international exchange student from Parul University, also shared what Diwali means to her.

“For me, Diwali is all about light, colors, and the time we spend with our family and friends. This time, I got the chance to celebrate Diwali with my friends and even create Rangoli, something I had never done before in India. This celebration has become a beautiful memory for me”, stated Zehra.

By Rachel Tiffany | UMN News Service

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