Festival of Lights Celebration Brings Students Together
Around 110 students gathered this fall to celebrate the Festival of Lights, known
as Diwali. Co-hosted by two on-campus organizations — International Christian Fellowship (ICF) and the South Asian Intercultural Association (SAICA) — the annual event unites students from a wide range of cultural backgrounds.
Among those in attendance were students from India, Pakistan, Nepal and other regions,
including both international and domestic participants. Together, they celebrated
the triumph of light over darkness, enjoyed meaningful fellowship and shared a meal
reminiscent of home.
In keeping with South Asian tradition, attendees savored a vibrant spread featuring
naan, chicken tikka masala, shahi paneer, Hyderabadi chicken biryani, boneless mutton
biryani, rasmalai and Gulab jamun. This cherished annual event has become a staple
in the campus community, designed to celebrate Diwali with students observing the
festival, foster a sense of belonging and welcome them into the ICF family — a community
grounded in care, connection and love.
TCU Admission Counselor Dhara Ghandi, based in India, describes Diwali as “one of the most significant celebrations for
Indians around the world.”
She paints a vivid picture of the holiday: “During Diwali, people wear their finest
clothes, illuminate their homes with earthen lamps and rangoli, perform worship ceremonies
for Lakshmi—the goddess of prosperity and wealth—light fireworks, and share family
feasts filled with mithai (sweets) and gifts.”
TCU’s International Christian Fellowship is part of a larger network of ICF chapters
across the United States.
TCU's ICF President, Roshni Ruben, describes the organization’s mission as one that exists to “love on international students as Christ would.”
For Roshni, ICF has been an invaluable part of her TCU experience, particularly through
her discipleship relationship with her mentor, Linda, a longtime ICF volunteer. As
a former missionary with extensive cross-cultural experience, Linda deeply understands
what it means to live far from home. “Linda has become my closest friend and second
mom in the U.S.,” Roshni shared. “She understands my identity in both worlds—my life
as an international student here, and my life as a visitor when I return home.”Roshni, who is Indian by heritage and came to TCU from Zambia, credits Linda’s mentorship
with helping her grow personally, feel deeply understood and find a sense of belonging
far from home. It’s relationships like these that embody ICF’s mission: to connect
with international students, learn their stories, and remind them of their roots.
For Dhara, the Festival of Lights holds deep personal meaning. “It symbolizes the
victory of light over darkness and good over evil,” she explains. While Diwali literally
translates to “a row of lights,” Dhara adds.
“For me, it means being home with family—celebrating together with delicious food, new clothes and gifts from elders. It’s a time to visit relatives, exchange warm wishes, burst firecrackers and simply forget your worries for a while. Most importantly, it’s about spreading joy, love and positivity within your community and beyond.”
And if you’re wondering who’s welcome to join, Roshni’s answer is simple and enthusiastic:
“Absolutely anyone!”