Welcome to Rangoli's Home page, The Indian Association at PENN

Rangoli is the Indian Association at Penn (IAP). The IAP is a fully incorporated University of Pennsylvania organization, receiving university funding, and with membership open to any member of the university community.

A "Rangoli" is a multi-colored mosaic, a (usually symmetric, much like a kaleidoscope) celebration of color, made with colored powders, and laid out on the floor. We chose this name to reflect what we envisage as the purpose of this organization.

At a broad level of description, we strive to expose members of the university community to India and the rich Indian culture in particular, and to facilitate cultural and social exchange between those members of the Penn community interested in India.

More particularly, we hope to:

Celebrate Indian festivals like Holi, Diwali, Id, and Christmas, and other momentous days like Republic and Independence Day.
Facilitate the easing into the university community of new graduate students/staff/faculty of Indian origin.
Organize social, cultural and sporting events of interest to people of Indian origin at UPenn, and thereby contribute to an active social environment for them.
Organize and/or facilitate seminars and talks on cultural, historical, political, economic, and social aspects of India, and provide a forum for active debate on various issues concerning India.
Contribute to the efforts in making the University of Pennsylvania a more multicultural and tolerant campus, and mobilize support against discrimination towards all groups in general and South Asians in particular.