The sharp flick of a finger sent a disk gliding across a square board Thursday evening in the Dogwood Room of the Indiana Memorial Union as students played Carrom, a tabletop board game common across Indian, Pakistan and other parts of South Asia.
The games were part of "Carrom and Kulfi,” hosted by the Indiana University Pakistani Student Association. Students with varying levels of familiarity played the game, in which players strike small black and white pieces across a smooth wooden board using a larger disk called a striker, with the goal of flicking the pieces into the board’s corner pockets.
Throughout the event, students rotated between tables, taking turns explaining gameplay to newcomers and competing in casual matches. Some paused between rounds to talk with friends or watch others play, while organizers helped keep the games moving.
PSA freshman representative Ayaan Nadeem said the event offered a relaxed way for students to connect while engaging with Pakistani culture.
“Carrom is an integral part of our culture,” Nadeem said. “It’s a game that I grew up playing. A lot of people on our board grew up playing it as well, and it’s just an embracement of that.”
PSA aims to host outreach or social events at least once a month, co-president and IU senior Zenia Qasim said. The organization holds club meetings twice a month and board meetings weekly.
In addition to Carrom, students also enjoyed kulfi, a frozen dessert originating from India made from slow-cooked milk and spices. Containers of the dessert were served to attendees as games continued around the room. Qasim prepared the kulfi for the event herself.
“We thought Carrom and kulfi sounded good together, so that’s something we incorporated,” Qasim said.
PSA co-president and senior Yumna Nasar said Carrom reflects the group’s broader goal of fostering connection across cultures.
“It’s a game that brings people together, and that’s part of our mission here at IU — to bring people, not just Pakistanis, but people of all different backgrounds together — and Carrom does that,” Nasar said.
That sense of connection carried over into the event. Sophomore Bilal Zackariya, who participated in one of the games, said it offered a chance to reconnect with a familiar pastime.
“It’s been a while since I played, so I hope to get back into the rhythm,” Zackariya said.
The gathering followed PSA programming last semester, including Spill the Chai in October, a social event centered around conversation and tea. The organization also hosted a benefit dinner in December that raised almost $600 for flood relief efforts in Pakistan through the nonprofit Support, Train and Empower People, Nadeem said.
Looking ahead, the PSA is preparing for its largest annual event, Mock Mehndi, on April 3. The event recreates elements of a traditional Pakistani and Indian wedding celebration, including mehndi designs, including paste designs drawn on the skin and cultural customs.
Nadeem said events like “Carrom and Kulfi” aimed to highlight Pakistani culture and create a welcoming space for students of all backgrounds.
“I hope that we reach some new people this semester, and that we create a space where people can come and hang out with their friends,” Nadeem said.
