The University of Kentucky’s Indian Wildcat Association celebrated the 76th anniversary of India’s adoption of the Indian Constitution by celebrating their culture and heritage at their Indian Republic Day celebration.
The celebration took place in Patterson Hall on Sunday, Jan. 26 and included various cultural celebrations. This was the first time the Indian Wildcats Association (IWA) has hosted an event honoring Indian Republic Day.
The constitution was adopted on Jan. 26, 1950, which declared India a Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic. According to the National Portal of India, this means India is now a free country allowed to govern itself without any external influences.
Prerna, the president of the IWA and a UK graduate student in the department of mathematics, organized the event to commemorate the celebration.
In Indian culture, surnames are not commonly used, according to the Cultural Atlas.
“From the peaceful quarters of Kerala to the Grand Himalayas, India is a shining example of the beauty of diversity,” said Prerna. “India is a symbol of strength, creativity and unity.”
Prerna said she wanted to highlight the pride she felt for her country and the holiday on campus.
“When you’re far away from your country, you want to be together with your friends, your community, for these small special events, which make you feel like you belong in America as well,” Prerna said. “We welcome everyone, not just Indian. We just want to show your culture and we want other people to be part of it.”
The Indian flag was raised in Patterson Hall as Hritika Menon, the IWA secretary and UK graduate student in health administration.
Menon explained the traditions for the ceremony, including keeping hands to the sides and a right-handed salute at the end while chanting patriotic slogans.
As the attendees followed tradition, they demonstrated their pride for their country and honored the rich history and freedom fighters of India, according to Menon.
They passed around ladoo, a traditional Indian sweet made from chickpea flour and saffron, as it is customary in Indian culture to celebrate positive events with sweets, according to Menon.
“In Indian culture, we have one thing that whenever we do an event or a good thing, we start by taking something sweet. It can be as small as a chocolate or like a cake or dessert,” said Menon. “So be it a birthday, be it a national event, be it any festival, so this is the prime thing that we have.”
The celebration began with an Indian history-themed Kahoot and asked questions involving topics like important Indian historical figures, as well as cultural trivia, such as traditional Indian instruments.
Sukhvirkaur, who did not provide a last name, is a member of IWA and a UK scientist in the plant science department. She attended the event to show her pride for India and connect with her friends.
“It’s really important to have this kind of association and to celebrate your own festivals or the important days of your nation,” Sukhvirkaur said. “India is a big country, but they (Americans) don’t know how much diversity there is, what kind of cuisines, languages and culture we all have. These kinds of events help to spread that kind of knowledge to people.”
The celebration also had a traditional South Indian breakfast, consisting of idli and chutney. According to Menon, the idli, a savory rice cake, and chutney, a vegetable-based condiment flavored with spices traditional in Indian culture.
The attendees then saluted the Indian flag to show their respect and love for their country. Prerna said that by honoring the flag in America, she is able to connect with her heritage and be proud of her culture.
Indian culture also consists of games, such as Antakshari.
According to Menon, Antakshari is a game in which a player must sing a song based on the last syllable of the last song sung.
“I was excited because it’s a time where we get to unite. All the Indians unite today,” Menon said.