To the strains of Bhangra music lilting through the air, students enjoyed south Asian cuisine Wednesday in the Marketplace food court.

Dishes like curried chickpeas, samosa pastries and mango chutney spiced up the Homestyle station. The specialized menu marked the start of the Indian holiday Diwali, the festival of lights.

Student groups sold traditional sweets like burfi, laddu and gulab jamun; third-year environmental studies major Paviiththira Vimalananthan used coloured sand, candles and incense to make a display on the floor, welcoming patrons to the cafeteria.

“It’s a great atmosphere here today,” said executive chef Paolo Vasapolli. “I think people are really enjoying the tastes, sounds, sights and smells of Indian culture.”