Walking into the hallway filled with booths, visitors were immersed in the rich smells of exotic foods, vibrant colors of flags and costumes, and the sound of different tongues and music filling the air. This was the scene at this year’s annual Festival of Nations, an event where students and community members had the opportunity to sample and celebrate the rich culture surrounding DU last Saturday, April 12, at the Ritchie Center.

While the event has been a DU tradition for three decades, this year’s Festival of Nations Committee sought to change the event to be even more inclusive this year.

“There has been a bigger effort to be inclusive of other student organizations rather than just the strictly international ones. Everyone has culture, and there’s a part for everyone here,” said Faculty Advisor of the Festival of Nations Committee, Ermitte Saint Jacques. “It’s about more than just nations, but rather culture and celebrating and appreciating it.”

Numerous booths were featured during the event this year. Some were  traditional cultural clubs like the DU Muslim Student Alliance and others were not necessarily about a certain culture, but still centered around international cooperation, like GlobalMed or the International and Intercultural Communications Masters Program.

 

Still, nations from around the world were showcased during the event, proud to show their culture to the Denver community, with hope to create a better understanding of diversity.

A member of the Native Student Alliance, Viki Eagle, a graduate student from Denver, hoped to educate the community about her culture as well as dispel stereotypes.

“We have our traditions, but we have also integrated into the present. I want other students to understand that duality,” said Eagle. “We’re present; we’re a part of campus. We’re not the stereotype that many people believe.”

The DU Korean Association presented visitors with a sample of traditional Korean foods, costumes and even a few modern trends in the country, like special bath soaps and lotions.

“We stayed up all night preparing all of this food, and we hope that people will participate in our culture by trying them,” said Teddy Choi, third year student from New York and member of the association. “It’s important for people from other countries to share knowledge and understanding to create respect.”

One new club, V.I.B.E., decided to center on inclusivity and diversity in general rather than just one culture. They welcomed students from all different cultures, ethnicities and gender identities to come together and seek to spread knowledge and understanding of one another.

“We want to exhibit the inclusive excellence that DU prides itself on. We welcome students from all identities, anything you want others to understand. By meeting people and understanding their identities, people can understand that these differences are strengths, not weaknesses,” said Fendi Chung, second year student from Aurora.

The organization that won the prize for best booth was the Bangladeshi Student Alliance. The table featured many traditional Bangladeshi dishes, the chance to take a picture in a sari, henna tattoos, a board with facts about the Bangladeshi culture and even a stuffed tiger.

“It means a lot for us to win. This is the second year that we have won this award,” said Mashfique Iqbal, husband of the president of the alliance, Ayesha Iqbal, a graduate student at DU.
“We want visitors to engage in our culture through the food and activities we offer,” said Nowshim Farzana, a first year graduate student and member of the alliance.

During the festival, various groups performed on stage, showcasing traditional dances and costumes from Mexico, Bolivia, India and many more. Many DU clubs participated as well, including the DU Tango Club, DU First Edition, Pioneer Breakers and the DU Latin Dance Club.

“Dancing is something that everyone can do, regardless of culture,” said Jamie Montoya, fourth year student from Thornton and member of the DU Latin Dance Club.

“When we go out and dance, everyone joins in,” said Montoya.

Top honors for performance went to Odissi Dance by Swagata and Group for their performance of a 2,000 year old traditional dance from Eastern India. The dancers wore colorful traditional dress and jewelry, and used hand gestures, movement and even gymnastics during the performance.

“We’re feeling great, it was a very nice experience. We’re very proud to show our culture in front of so many diverse people,” said Swagata Baneajee, one of the lead dancers for the group. “Learning about other cultures can be fun, and it’s very important to learn from what cultures other than your own can teach you.”

The event ended with a multicultural fashion show featuring dress from all over the world, including Ethiopia, Germany, Korea and many more.

“I want to show my culture and that I’m proud of being Ethiopian,” said Betchlehem Besrat, a first year student from Aurora. “I think it’s important for people to be interested in learning about other cultures.”

The Festival of Nations brought different nations and cultures together for the sake of diversity and inclusivity in a concerted effort to further cultural excellence at DU.