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Hindu student faces religious trials solo |
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Tuesday, 06 March 2007 |
Editor’s Note: This is the fourth of a five-part series focusing on members of the Appalachian community who practice religion in college.
by MILLIE TOLLESON
News Reporter
Upholding religious traditions in college can be hard, but being one of only a few practicing the same religion makes it even tougher.
Smeeta A. Lavani practices Hinduism and has found fewer than a handful of other Hindus at Appalachian State University.
“I am from Raleigh where there is a huge Indian population. I had a culture back home,” Lavani, a junior psychology major, said.
 Active Image | Jeyhoun Allebaugh | The Appalachian
Smeeta
A. Lavani, a junior psychology major, is one of a few practicing Hindus
at Appalachian State University. While there isn’t a temple closer
than Charlotte, she still plans on keeping Hinduism a part of her life
throughout college. |
Lavani said while there are no specific holy days in Hinduism, followers pray and attend temple everyday, if they can.
This presents a problem for Lavani, as the closest temple to Boone is in Charlotte.
Lavani usually only attends temple when she visits her family in Raleigh.
“College life is so fast-paced,” she said. “It is hard to find time to do things.”
While she does not pray as often at college, Lavani does practice the correct diet.
Lavani, like most Hindus, is vegetarian.
“When I lived on campus, it was a problem,” Lavani said. “On campus I
only had ‘The Lite Side,’ but living off campus, I can make other
things.”
There are also many festivals associated with Hinduism, including one of Lavani’s favorites, Navratri.
“It’s nine nights of dancing and praising the goddess Amba,” Lavani
said. “We get to dance and see people we haven’t seen in a while.”
During her childhood, Lavani grew up praying multiple times during the day, including prior to eating and bathing.
“Hinduism is a continual practice throughout life, something we hold in
high regard,” Lavani said. “We believe all living creatures have a part
of our God in them.”
Hinduism includes a belief system similar to the Trinity in
Christianity. The belief includes Brahma, the creator, Vishnu, the
preserver, and Shiva, the destroyer.
Lavani said one defining belief of Hinduism is reincarnation.
“Before we are in the human form, we had to be in lesser forms, like
animals,” she said. “If you do well in other lives, you get to be in
the highest form.”
Lavani was born in the United States, but her parents grew up in India
and were matched by an arranged marriage, a popular Hindu tradition.
Although the tradition has seen a decline recently, one of Lavani’s
sisters still plans to have an arranged marriage. However, Lavani does
not.
“Arranged marriage isn’t as important as it used to be,” she said. “I probably won’t marry an Indian [man].
“My parents call me ‘Americanized,’ but they moved here and put us in
the middle of this culture,” Lavani said. “We uphold the traditions of
Hindu but it’s hard sometimes.”
Lavani said although her practice of Hinduism has decreased in college,
she still plans to make religion a strong part of her life.
“Once life is more stable and I live in a place where I can join a
temple, I will practice more,” Lavani said. “I plan on bringing up my
kids as Hindus, but they have their choice, of course.”
Lavani said she loves the fact that Hinduism is a “really peaceful religion.”
One Hindu figure Lavani looks to is Mahatma Ghandi, who she is related to through a long line of ancestry.
“It is amazing that [Ghandi] was so devout and able to do so many things during his lifetime,” she said.
“His nonviolent protests and his teachings of peacefulness have stuck with me.”
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