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Wed, 04 Apr 2018 20:32:28 +0000

Penn State Berks hosts Vaisakhi celebration admin Wed, 04/04/2018 - 16:32 Credit: Penn State Expand April 5, 2018
In celebration of Vaisakhi, the Sikh new year and Punjabi harvest festival, the Penn State Berks Punjabi Culture Club and Muslim Student Association will host a special celebration from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 18, in the Perkins Student Center Multipurpose Room on campus. This event is free and open to Penn State Berks students, faculty and staff.

The celebration will include a dinner of Indian food, performances, music and a photobooth. Space is limited, and seats must be reserved by April 11, by contacting Serena at sas6900@psu.edu or Sabi at sja5467@psu.edu.

Vaisakhi observes major events in the history of Sikhism and the India subcontinent that occurred during the Punjab region. It marks birth of the Khalsa way of living in the Sikh religion and commemorates the formation of Khalsa panth of warriors under Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. It is also a spring harvest festival for the Sikhs. Vaisakhi is also an ancient festival of Punjabis, marking the Solar New Year and also celebrating the spring harvest. It is regionally known by many names, but celebrated in broadly similar ways by some Hindus and Punjabis.

In the fall of 2017, Penn State Berks welcomed its largest class of international students: a total of 126. Of that number, 66 are new students. To help these students succeed, the college has implemented a variety of programs and events.

For more information on the Vaisakhi celebration, contact Sharon Pitterson-Ogaldez, coordinator of diversity and international programs, at 610-396-6080 or via email at sup373@psu.edu.