Nikita Sharma was excited to find the Marketplace serving an Indian meal Tuesday in celebration of the Hindu festival, Diwali.

“It’s amazing,” said the first-year kinesiology student, who moved in September to Windsor from her home in India. “I am having Indian food after two whole months without it.”

She enjoyed a platter of basmati rice, yogurt salad and curried paneer, chickpeas and lentils.

“The gulab jamun (a syrupy dessert) is amazing too!” Sharma said.

Brenell Dean, in her second-year pursuing a double major in French and psychology, ended up with a thali almost by accident.

“I thought I was in line for Subway,” she said. “I have had Indian food before, but nothing like this. It’s a treat; it’s nice trying new things.”

In addition to the special menu, the CAW Student Centre came alive with south Asian music and performances of bhangra dance.

Food Services cooks pose in front of a banner reading “Happy Diwali” in the Marketplace.

Student dancers put on a show of south Asian culture, Tuesday in the CAW Student Centre.

India wasn’t the only Asian nation celebrating its culture Tuesday. The Chinese Students and Scholars Association held a bake sale and provided a booth for visitors to try on traditional Chinese clothing for a photograph. Peddling cupcakes were (from left) Jinlu Liu, Lian Zuo, Shu Di Dong and Sisi Ren.