Hearts in harmony.

This was the theme for the University of Georgia Asian American Student Association’s Annual Lunars Festival, which took place on Saturday, Feb. 8 in the Tate Grand Hall.

The festival highlighted the diversity of Asian cultures that celebrate Lunar New Year through various cultural performances, skits and food. Students from all backgrounds came together to celebrate the year of the snake, which is a time for transformation, growth and renewal, according to The University of Sydney.

AASA is an organization that promotes cultural and political awareness of Asian and Asian American customs and diversity within UGA. As Lunar New Year is typically a celebration of togetherness and traditionally spent with loved ones, AASA strives to create its own Lunars event to foster connection within the university’s Asian American community.

“It was my very first event at UGA,” Vanna Yan, a junior data science major and one of the Lunars event co-directors, said. “It was pretty special to me because it was kind of eye opening. I have never been in an area with so many people with similar cultures as me, besides family gatherings as a kid.”

With about 600 people in attendance, the event blended cultures from all over UGA’s campus and provided a sense of community for many individuals. This included Zi Lin, a sophomore public health major from Bethlehem, Georgia.

“Lunar New Year falls on the weekday, so I can’t really celebrate it with my family,” Lin said. “I really like that UGA provides this type of event, so everyone from UGA can come together and celebrate the holiday together.”

The annual skit put on a heartfelt story inspired by the year of the snake, in which a young girl is transported into an ancient Chinese tale,“The Legend of the White Snake.” In order to return back to her own world, she would have to complete the story as the White Snake Demon. True to the theme, the skit highlighted the harmony that comes from allowing love to bridge gaps.

Attendees began to enter the venue at 5:30 p.m. with performances set to start at 7 p.m. The hall, decorated with various shades of green and gold, led to a buffet filled with foods and sweets from different corners of Asia catered by Taste of India, Wok’s Up, Paris Bánh Mì and Sweet Hut.

In addition to speeches made by AASA’s executive board, the festival featured multiple performances by different cultural organizations across campus, including the UGA Chinese Music Ensemble, UGA Karate Club, Vietnamese Student Association Lions, Enkore and multiple individual acts. Performers met weeks in advance to prepare for the festival’s performance.

Outside the Tate Grand Hall, those in attendance were able to take pictures at various photo booths to show off their formal and traditional wear, as well as participate in a good fortune exchange to receive blessings for the new year. The night ended with a traditional fashion show, showcasing various garments from different parts of Asian culture.

“It’s pretty much a night where everyone comes together to celebrate their own cultures as well as appreciate other people’s cultures,” Yan said. “We’re not limited to any specific culture.”