On Saturday, March 12, Penza State University international students from India celebrated the Navratri festival. The event was held at the Center for Sports and Youth Initiatives, about 300 international students took part in it.

The Navratri festival is held for students from India as part of the cultural marathon "Around the World in 2 semesters".

In Sanskrit, the word "Navratri" means "nine nights". “This festival is very popular in India. We gather in large companies and dance. The deep symbolic meaning of the festival lies in the victory of good over evil, so it gives a person faith in the power of spiritual truths, the triumph of justice and the opportunity to implement the brightest undertakings,” said Jaspalsing Rajput, a student from India.

Sergey Ivanchin, Head of the International Education Office, addressed international students and congratulated them on the festival and wished them to get as many positive emotions as possible: “In times when there was no pandemic, we held Navratri every year, as this holiday is of great importance to our students. And we really hope that now we will revive this good tradition!”