From March 8 to April 15, NC State celebrates APISAA Heritage Month to commemorate individuals who identify with Asian, Pacific Islander or South Asian backgrounds. 

Throughout March and April, NC State’s campus will be bustling with APISAA-related activities, each accommodating specific cultural identifications to student clubs and heritage. 

Specifically, East Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian, West Asian, Central Asian and Pacific backgrounds all make up APISAA.

With over 40 countries and languages being involved in the monthly celebration, Gavin Bell, the assistant director of Multicultural Student Affairs, said the different event celebrations on campus will vary for that reason. 

“​​APISAA is just very big, very big, probably the biggest demographic that we support in regards to the diversity of it,” Bell said. “So you have not only different countries but completely different language systems, completely different customs and belief systems. I think that because of that, you also see a lot of diversity across the different student organizations that represent the APISAA on this campus.” 

Here are the first round of events representing South and North Asian, Indian, Vietnamese and Filipino perspectives this March. 

Asian Artist Showcase, March 8

NC State’s student organization CRANE harbors opportunities for Asian narratives around campus. This year, CRANE is hosting their annual Asian Artist Showcase on March 8 from 6 to 9 p.m. As each year welcomes a new theme, this year CRANE is presenting “Habitat.” The showcase allows students to showcase or perform their North Carolinian artistry, ranging from visual canvases to dancing, singing and poetry. 

To buy a ticket, CRANE is utilizing TicketTailor where the prices range from $5-10. To keep updated on their schedule highlighting the flow of events, visit CRANE’s Linktree.

Holi, March 22

Holi is a traditional Hindu holiday typically celebrated in Northern India as the commemoration of the arrival of the full moon day or the start of spring and the end of winter and broken relationships. On NC State’s campus this March 22 from 2 to 5 p.m., EKTAA, a student organization honoring South Asian culture, is hosting its very own Holi festival. The festival will be held at Stafford Commons with music and the usage of paint to exemplify the flying colors of eternal love from Hindu gods such as Radha and Krishna. 

For more information on celebrating Holi, check EKTAA’s Instagram for updates.

The Art of Passion, March 22 

NC State’s own Vietnamese Student Association, or VSA, is hosting its biggest event this year — The Art of Passion. Every spring, VSA holds its cultural show Viet Night to celebrate Vietnamese culture. This year, The Art of Passion encapsulates performances and the journey of Lien, a young girl finding her passion, exploring romance and learning core Vietnamese family values. 

The show will be on March 22 from 7 to 9 p.m. in Witherspoon Student Center 117. For more information on attending, visit the VSA Instagram page and meet the performers for this year’s show. 

Hiwaga Spring Charity Gala, March 22 

FASA is a student organization that focuses on representing Filipino American students on campus. This year, FASA is hosting its charity gala to represent Hiwaga, a Filipino word that translates to mystery, to harbor a sense of community and create connections throughout the organization. The event will showcase performances, present traditional Filipino dishes and allow attendees to showcase their special talents. 

The event will take place March 22 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the Piedmont-Mountains Ballroom in Talley Student Union. To purchase tickets and learn more about the event, visit the RSVP page.

APISAA Chat ‘n Chew, March 27 

Toward the end of the month, the Multicultural Student Affairs and CRANE are hosting a Chat ‘n Chew to wrap up the first half of the celebration. The event invites all APISAA student organizations and any interested students to come together to eat and discuss the previous weeks’ events and celebrations. 

Bell said since APISAA Heritage Month covers a wide range of cultures, having a Chat ‘n Chew allows everyone to bring their specific narrative to celebrate specific parts of their shared heritage. 

The event will allow students to discuss their specific communities and the idea of “belonging” and will be held on March 27 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Multicultural Student Affairs suite in Talley Student Union. For more information on the event, visit the NC State’s event calendar.

Visit the Multicultural Student Affairs and club websites to learn more about the first round of APISAA heritage and coordinating events.