mumbai university mu was enveloped in diwali cheer as we walked through paths and venues lit up in long trails of fairy lights in different hues red green and copper string glimmering diyas and a floral rangolia sea of international students could be seen amid this backdrop relishing indian mithais and chivdas the occasion diwali celebration which also doubled up as an orientation programme for international students a brainchildof the pro vicechancellor dr ravindra kulkarni and dr sunil patil director of students welfare they requested local students to help foreign students with the whole process of lighting diyas offering prayers and explaining the significance of this day an ecofriendly celebration they ditched the plan of bursting crackers this year the event was attended by students from as far as germany south africa republic of congo uganda singapore afghanistan to our neighbours from countries like sri lanka and bangladesh tom lucas who has just arrived in the city on a sixmonth exchange programme says that the street art transports him back to his home country during christmas i chose india and mumbai in particular for my international exchange because it is so different and far away from europe and germany as i arrived in india i was surprised to see just how loud this place is laughs there are so many people on the streets its beautiful and has a smell that is exclusive to india diwali feels pretty good in the campus i stay on with all the houses lit on the outside and the street dcor it reminds me of home during christmas he explains toms friend and fellow student aline franzuss encounter with indians during one of her travels prompted her to choose india for her foreign exchange programme i have met a lot of indian people during my trips abroad and have been intriguedto learn more about their culture and the best way to do that is to actually come to india laughs she says while gorging on some indian mithai and samosas mohammad saeed alemi is a bms student at saraf college the student from afghanistan finds a deep connection with india musically inclined from a tender age he learnt how to play the harmonium and even performed an afghani arabic song that had his friends and students in a frenzy ask saeed what he likes the most about mumbai and he is quick to reply vada pav he also goes on to rattle more names like masala dosa and chicken lollipop that he finds tasty i feel like i truly belong here he states luyiga ronald a postgraduate computer science from uganda finds diwali as to be one of the most fascinating aspects of india diwali is undoubtedly one of the best things that i have come across in india i love everything about this festival including the food that we get to eat here around this time the outfits that people wear during diwali is so lovely and visually appealing a look