In Hindu legend, Durga is the mother goddess, representative of creation, destruction, fertility, and more. Every year, cultures across India and South Asia celebrate the goddess Durga’s origin story in a 10-day festival. And every year, UIS hosts a Durga Dance in its own celebration.

The Durga Dance, which was hosted by the Indian Dance Organization (IDO) and co-sponsored by the Women’s Center this year, is an annual event at UIS. The dance includes an altar honoring Durga, a buffet, and performances by singers and dancers.

Three years ago, a number of Indian students approached the Women’s Center about the possibility of bringing the celebration of Durga to campus.

“[The students said] ‘There’s a lot of different holidays on campus, and the Indian clubs, they don’t do this,’” said Lynn Otterson, director of the Women’s Center. After reviewing the story of Durga, Otterson agreed that the Great Mother deserved recognition and celebration on the UIS campus.

The celebration began with a visit to the altar, where attendees paid their respects to the goddess. Afterward, the audience was introduced to the IDO, the Women’s Center, and a handful of professors who attended the event.

One professor, Dr. Atul Agarwal of the Department of Management Information Services, noted how the celebration reminded him of India.

“It almost seems like we’re in India,” he said. “In America, we’re in India. And we have to really thank the IDO … these guys have done a wonderful job.”

Once the introductions were complete, the first dancer took the stage and performed the story of Lord Brahma, the beginning of the story of Durga.

In the story, a demon known as Mahisharura was granted a form of immorality from Lord Brahma after proving his dedication to the lord. No man or god could kill Mahisharura, and the demon’s reign over Earth and heaven began.

After being run out of heaven by a demon they couldn’t defeat, the gods went to lords Vishnu, Shiva, and Brahma for help. The three lords created Durga’s physical form, and, because she was a goddess and thus neither a man nor a god, she was able to defeat Mahisharura after a 10-day-long battle.

According to Manoj Kumar Dharna, president of the IDO, the annual celebration of Durga is one of the biggest festivals in India.

The IDO worked diligently to bring this year’s festivities to UIS. “They have been working for the last two weeks until almost [4 a.m.] every day to organize this festival,” said Jolene Vollmer, staff advisor to the IDO.

The celebration carried on throughout the night, including a large group dance halfway through the event when the audience gathered in the middle of the gym and performed a dandiya dance. Once the dandiya dance was complete, the crowd flocked to the buffet.

The festivities picked back up once everyone finished eating. The IDO closed out the dancing with one final, elaborate dance routine that was met with cheers and whistles from the crowd.

“The event was successful and the dancers gave fabulous performance with amazing formations,” Darnha said.

According the final tally taken by the Women’s Center, over 600 people attended the event. Darnha said, “This was the first Indian event which had a big crowd at UIS as per my knowledge, and I’m very happy.”