“Let’s rock this party!” and “Go Tigers!” may sound more like game-day chants than those heard at a traditional Indian banquet.But they were rousing words by Indian Student Association president Vamshi Samudrala on Saturday night at Mauj — a traditional Indian banquet that allowed Indian students at the University to connect with their roots.Samudrala said about 550 tickets were sold, and students and Baton Rouge residents alike packed the floor of the PMAC at the ISA-hosted event.The event featured entertainment ranging from traditional Indian dances to a modern rock group. Sixteen acts performed, including party bands Chukdumdum and Funky Monkeys in Town.Attendees stepped through the doors of the PMAC on a red carpet into a world of pure Indian culture.Most guests were dressed in traditional Indian clothes: the women in saris, the men in kurtas.The tables were filled, and lines stretched from one end of the red- and orange-clad PMAC to the other when dinner was served.The night began with the lighting of the diya, a traditional Indian lamp, to have the gods bring good fortune on the event. A short prayer song, or Aarti, was sung to honor the gods in the Republic of India’s official language, Hindi.”The Star-Spangled Banner” was played, followed by the Indian National Anthem, “Jana Gana Mana.” “The ISA helps students get into the American lifestyle, guiding them from India to LSU,” Samudrala said.Next, a traditional classical Indian dance was performed, followed by modern rock group Live Wire.The group performed a variety of songs, ranging from Bon Jovi’s “It’s My Life” to songs from hit Bollywood movies.The band’s performance — in Hindi and English — matched the event’s theme of a combination of American and Indian culture.Dinner, catered by The Bay Leaf, featured Indian cuisine, including naan and vegetable biryani.”It’s a good opportunity for students to get out and see a new culture,” said Brad Neumann, business graduate student.Sanjith Venkateswaran, engineering student, attended the event for the first time Saturday. “ISA is like Homeland Security to us,” Venkateswaran said. “We rush to them whenever we have issues, and they safely guide us through them.” —-Contact Andrew Hanson at [email protected]