An organization on campus is dancing and holding a festival to raise money for underprivileged children in India at 7 p.m. tonight at IM-Sports Circle.

The Tarang is a traditional Indian festival, a celebration of colors, that is open to everyone. Students decorate with vibrant colors, and those participating in the Tarang wear very bright-colored clothing, said Jasper Gill, co-president of Asha for Education, the group hosting the event.

"I like Tarang because it brings people together," he said. "It's a new experience for everyone. You get to experience a new culture, and at the same time, you're donating money to a really worthy cause."

Asha for Education, an organization that has chapters on campuses across the U.S., was established at MSU in 1999 to help push for literacy in India.

"There's a cycle of poverty in India," Gill said. "Luckily, our parents were able to bring us here, and now we're in college here at MSU. We're enabling (Indian students in India) to have a chance to have a better life. We do it to give back to the world."

Raas Garba and Bhangra, two traditional Indian dances, will be performed at the Tarang.

"When I first went, I learned all these new dances," Gill said. "It was a really refreshing experience."

The Coalition of Indian Undergraduate Students, or CIUS, holds a Satrang dance every spring. Satrang is different from Tarang because the event isn't for charity, said Yash Vora, CIUS social chair.

"Tarang is by Asha, and it's charitable work," he said. "They hold the event and ask people to make donations to schools or needy children in India."

Students from other universities are also invited to join in the celebration. Asha advertised at other schools through Facebook.com, said group member and nutrition junior Maneet Dharia.

"It's a great way for (people from other schools) to meet everyone at MSU, and there's a lot of fun afterward," Dharia said. "After the event, everyone usually gets together and hangs out."