Attendees and SASO members group picture Photo by. Nicole Johnson

The South Asian Student Organization presented its Annual Desi Night Luminous Night event to the UMD community on October 18th. Dressed in the Kirby Ballroom, this South Asian exhibit displayed the ballroom with culture and elegance.

The term Desi is used to describe someone of South Asian descent. This term comes from a Sanskrit word, desa, meaning “country” or “land,” and is now used as a term for cultural identity

Vice President Ara Jibril said, “Desi Night is a celebration of South Asian music, culture, and food. This is an event to bring many people across cultures to take part in the experience of our traditional wear, practices, and beliefs.

This South Asian Met Gala featured performances from various dances, from traditional South Asian different like the tango from Latin American culture.

Group dance performance done by Maha Buggeinani, Nikki Diaz, Jillian Sajdak, Zannatul Methela, Autumn Bestgen, and Divya Subramaniam. Photo by. Nicole Johnson

SASO’s treasurer, Nikki Diaz, said, "Our vision truly came to life as everyone enjoyed the food and danced the night away. In addition to the support from our advisor, Susana Woodward, our team's collaboration was crucial to the planning and execution of everything successfully.”

An assortment of cultural food and drinks was served, from Bengali Vegetable Curry and Nasi Goreng to Verra Sappe and Cardamon Rose milk.

“The food was an incredible testament to South Asian dishes. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way”, said Jibril
SASO always strives to make sure Desi Night is able to showcase the uniqueness of South Asian culture, and to make sure that audiences who are not familiar with it can enjoy it as well. The focus for Desi Night is to create an atmosphere os South Asian Pride, cultural appreciation, and unity.

“To me, this night represented the beauty of unity through culture. Even though I’m not South Asian, being part of Desi Night allowed me to celebrate and learn about traditions that bring people together through music, dance, and community. It reminded me how powerful cultural exchange can be, how food, art, and joy can bridge backgrounds and make everyone feel welcome,” said Diaz.

Farid Kuyack demonstrating his drag skills performing a drag dance. Photo by. Nicole Johnson

As a multicultural center organization, the South Asian Student Organization aims to unite students of South Asian descent to increase awareness of South Asian issues.

“Desi Night isn’t just an event. It was a reminder of why diversity and connection matter so much on campus. I believe that supporting diverse cultures is at the heart of what the multicultural center stands for,” said Diaz.

Students who were present at the event all felt exhilarated from the high-intensity performances and the atmosphere around them.

“It was fun, the place was dressed up, and everyone was very nice,” said Toni Baker

“It was a fun event. It came to watch my friends, and they all did amazing,” said Marcheti

“I’m very proud of all the performers,” said Atlas Wolf
SASO hopes to continue growing Desi Night each year, strengthening this sense of community and cultural pride for future students to enjoy."

“I just wanted to give a major thanks to everyone who attended and supported Desi Night. Your energy and enthusiasm made this celebration truly special. A heartfelt thank you also goes to all the performers, volunteers, and our caterer who shared their talents and time to make the night unforgettable. This event reminded us of the power of coming together to celebrate our culture and share it with others who may be experiencing it for the first time,” said Jibril.

For more information on SASO, visit @umdsaso on Instagram. For future events and activities from SASO, visit the Office of Diversity & Inclusion calendar of events or SASO’s Bulldog Connect.

SASO Hosts A Luminous Desi Night