The cultural event of the semester recently took Miami’s campus by storm. The seats of
Hall Auditorium were packed this past Friday and Saturday for performances of “My Big
Fat Indian Wedding”- the Indian Students Association’s (ISA) presentation of Diwali.
For those who aren’t familiar with the annual “festival of lights”, it is widely celebrated
throughout India and honors historical battles of good versus evil. As a whole the five-
day celebration of Diwali, which officially began on November 12, symbolizes strength,
power, and light for the future.
Our post last year on the event, “Bollywood’s Best Dance
Crew” highlighted the preparation that went into the show and the reasons for which
people appreciated being involved in the organization. This year’s goal was to parody the
movie “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”. The narrative was focused on the theme of love,
showcasing the relationship of characters Maya and Aaron, who were engaged to wed.
Each individual dance (there were seven total) showcased a unique dancing style from
various regions in India.
The show commenced with a video of the Indian National Anthem and closed with a
beautiful performance of the Bhangra dance. After the show, Her Campus was able to
catch up with Brittany Flannigan, a general member for the past two years and
choreographer of Bollywood this year, a dance with origins in Mumbai, along with the
talented Arohi Bhatt. Brittany Flannigan said of the organization as a whole, “It’s cool to
see new people come in and love the culture so much, from the colors to the dancing”. Of
the rehearsal process Brittany has commented that despite the stress of the practices, on
show day it’s the most rewarding feeling. Of her Bollywood team she raved, “Our group
has so much love for each other, which makes it so much better coming together”. Their
Bollywood choreography was reflective of Bollywood in India cinema, regarded for its
unforgettable and westernized style. Another moving element to the performance was the
Seniors Dance, which celebrated with their involvement in ISA during their time at
Miami. The music was another factor which made the performance that much more
magical. Not only was the music a blend of classic Indian songs, but the dances also
infused today’s popular music. For example, in the Raas number, “Mercy” by Kanye
West and Big Sean was played in the beginning followed by “Snapbacks and Tattoos” by
Driicky Graham (needless to say I was out of my seat that entire number!).
“My Big Fat
Indian Wedding” was a fantastic representation of Indian culture and was a true
celebration of the heritage and its beautiful people and love for expression by means of
dancing. The passion for culture and fostering long-lasting relationships as a community
on campus was evident from all involved in Diwali!