Students descend on campus to celebrate Masti 2005

Approximately 300 students will flock to campus from around the Midwest today in search of Masti.\nThe Indian Student Association will play host to Masti 2005, an annual event to promote cultural awareness of southern Asia, today through Sunday. \n"Masti is translated into selfless enjoyments, innocent contentment, delight and festivity," said President of ISA and senior Meghna Mirchandani. "The goal of Masti is to provide its participants with a respect and appreciation for the culture found within themselves."\nMasti started in 1999 with the success of entertaining 300 participants from all over the Midwest. Students from many Midwestern universities, such as the University of Illinois, the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Kentucky, will travel to IU today for the event. \n"Masti was created to bring together college students from across the Midwest in order to further the education and enjoyment of the beauty that is South Asian culture," Mirchandani said.\nAccording to the event Web site, Friday will kick off with the Mr. and Ms. Masti 2005 Pageant, followed by a party at Truffles 56 Degrees Bar restaurant. Saturday will include a number of activities, such as the annual inter-collegiate basketball tournament, a Saturday night after-party and a cricket tournament, which is new to Masti this year. Sunday will close with a farewell brunch.\n"We have a new addition, the cricket tournament that will last for two days," said Vice President of ISA senior Rimi Gill. "Cricket is a huge, popular sport in India."\nThe Mr. and Ms. Masti 2005 Pageant is also new, which will consist of 22 contestants, 11 females and 11 males from IU and IU-Purdue University \nIndianapolis. \nMirchandani said there are three rounds: the South Asian formal round, the club round and the cocktail round. In the South Asian round, contestants will wear traditional Indian outfits. Mr. and Ms. Masti will receive recognition throughout along with VIP entrance to activities and free T-shirts.\nThe $11,000 event is funded by registration fees, fund raising and donations. ISA has been holding various fund-raising events since the summer. \n"The Masti co-chairs, (junior) Tripti Singh and (junior) Pankti Desai and the entire board have put in a lot of work into this weekend and we're all excited to see the outcome of this event and bare the fruits of our hard work," Mirchandani said.\nMirchandani and Rimi said they are looking forward to meeting new people, making new friends and making sure participants have a good time in Bloomington. \nFor more information about the event, visit www.iumasti.com. On-site registration is available from 2 to 6 p.m. Friday in the Indiana Memorial Union Hoosier Room. Registration costs $45.\n-- Contact Staff Writer Daria Kamalipour at dkamalip@indiana.edu.