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Sangyoub Park, an associate professor of sociology, dressed in traditional Korean attire, explains a display of Korean snacks to attendees. The table showcased foods commonly enjoyed in Korea as part of the event’s efforts to highlight global traditions on campus.
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Mao Nozoe, freshman forensic anthropology major, representing Japan, serves a portion of traditional food to Lauren Barr, mastering in Leadership and Communication. The Japanese table welcomed visitors with homemade dishes and friendly conversation as students shared the flavors and traditions of their culture.
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Zahra Luhini, junior political science major, and James Tanasyah, senior computer information sciences major, representing Indonesia, smile together in vibrant batik attire during the Celebration of Cultures. They showcased the patterns and symbolism of traditional Indonesian clothing as part of their effort to share their heritage with the Washburn community.
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Zhang (left), Josie Riddle (middle), junior art major, and Zehang Li (right), freshman computer sciences major, pose for a photo behind the China table as they display traditional dishes. They prepared a variety of foods and decorated their setup earlier in the day to share aspects of Chinese culture with the campus community.
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Attendees gather around a table, enjoying their meals during the Celebration of Cultures event. The area stayed busy throughout the evening as students sampled dishes from around the world.
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Students representing Nepal prepare a display board during the event. The group created decorations and organized materials to highlight Nepali traditions, foods and cultural history for attendees.
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Attendees form lines to sample dishes from various cultural tables. Students and other attendees enjoyed sampling traditional meals while learning about the various cultures represented at the event.
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Marika Prasai, sophomore nursing major and the president of the international club, dressed in traditional attire, hands plates and cups to two attendees, Artee Pant and Archita Shrestha, junior psychology major. The International Club’s leadership helped welcome guests and ensured participants had everything they needed to enjoy the evening’s food and performances.
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Students share Nepali sweet dishes with attendees during the event, offering a variety of traditional snacks. Sneha Sah, junior nursing major, represented Nepal at the showcase, while Rajdeep Sah, junior computer information sciences and mathematics major, stopped by to try the sweet treats.
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Baili Zhang, a director of International Programs, serves traditional food to attendees during the Celebration of Cultures event in the Union Underground. The booth offered homemade dishes representing Chinese cuisine as part of the evening’s cultural showcase.
Washburn University’s Union Underground transformed into a cultural space Thursday evening Nov. 20 as international students from various countries came together for the Celebration of Cultures, an annual event that highlights global diversity on campus through food, performances and traditional attire.
The event ran from 5-8 p.m. and drew an estimated 70 to 80 attendees. Students, faculty and community members walked through the Underground as it filled with the smell of spices, the sound of music and conversations about cultural traditions.
Lauren Barr, a student mastering in Leadership and Communication and a recruiter at Washburn Tech, attended the Celebration of Cultures to connect with friends and enjoy the university’s international programs. She said the event offered a chance to experience different cultures through food, music and performances while catching up with people she knew from previous programs.
“I actually have a lot of international friends here at Washburn. And then also, I really love the international programs, because I work the summer programs with the Japanese students, so a lot of people I knew would be coming to this event,” Barr said. “Actually, some of the Korean food is new for me. I don’t even remember the name of this one, but it’s really good.”
International students prepared tables featuring food that represented their backgrounds. Some offered sweet dishes, while others shared homemade snacks or traditional meals commonly served at celebrations back home.
Many students stood behind their tables explaining their ingredients, why certain foods are important and how they are typically eaten. Their cultural attire added an extra layer of storytelling, as students described the meanings behind patterns, colors and designs.
Zehang Li, freshman computer information sciences major, representing China, brought traditional Chinese dishes to the Celebration of Cultures, including preserved eggs, tea eggs and a dessert made with red beans.
The group prepared the food just a few hours before the event and decorated their table with flyers and a teapot display. Li said tea eggs are the most important dish because this is what lots of people use as traditional breakfast in China.
Talking about sharing their culture, Li said the event was a fun way to introduce others to new flavors.
“I hope people try something they’ve never had before and learn a little about how we eat and celebrate back home,” Li said. “It’s exciting to see others enjoy the food and ask questions about it.”
Marika Prasai, sophomore nursing major and the president of Washburn’s International Club, said the Celebration of Cultures is an important event that brings international students together to share their traditions, food and clothing while giving American students a chance to learn about different cultures. She explained that the event is not just about showcasing dishes or performances, but about fostering interaction, engagement and understanding among students from diverse backgrounds.
Prasai noted that preparing for the event takes significant effort, from organizing food and decorations to coordinating performances, but it’s rewarding to see the campus community come together to celebrate diversity.
“This event is important because we have a lot of international students on campus, and this is a way where we can like, share our culture and like the engagement.,” Prasai said. “I can see that most of them love the food, everything that’s going on. Yeah, I’m enjoying the food. I’m enjoying different cultures as well. So, the overall event is very better than I have expected, and I’m very proud to see it come together.”
Some students sang songs related to their heritage, while others went up and performed traditional dances for cultural celebrations or ceremonies.
Crowds formed in tight circles around each performance, cheering and clapping along with the students sharing pieces of their culture. Many in attendance recorded videos or took photos to share later.
Zahra Luhini, junior political science major, representing Indonesia at the Celebration of Cultures, brought a variety of traditional Indonesian snacks to share with attendees, including pisang goreng (fried banana), piscok (deep-fried banana and Nutella or caramel spring rolls), rujak buah (fruit salad) and klepon (mochi with shredded coconut topping).
Luhini said preparing the food took about three hours, with help from a fellow student, and that the event gave her an opportunity to educate others about her country. She explained that while all the dishes are traditional, rujak buah and klepon are especially significant, though younger generations tend to prefer items like fried bananas.
“I would love them to know that, ‘Hey, Indonesia exists,” Luhini said. “Some people, when I tell them I’m from Indonesia, they are not sure where it is or they just assume like, ‘Oh, it’s a small country. We have 700 languages, and we have 14,000 islands in the country.”
The Celebration of Cultures continues to serve as a reminder of the diverse voices present at Washburn and the importance of creating spaces where students can celebrate their identities while inviting others to learn alongside them.
Edited by Stuti Khadka
