Serving the Southern Illinois University community since 1916.

The Daily Egyptian
Serving the Southern Illinois University community since 1916.

The Daily Egyptian
Serving the Southern Illinois University community since 1916.

The Daily Egyptian
Visitors to the Lights Fantastic Parade watch the Lowe’s float as it passes Dec. 7, 2024 on the Strip in Carbondale, Illinois.

Lights Fantastic Parade kicks off the holidays

By Enan Chediak, Photo Editor • December 7, 2024

The annual Lights Fantastic Parade was held December 7, 2024 in Carbondale, Illinois. Visitors to the parade lined the Strip and watched the Christmas decoration, bands, and the festivities during the...

Jacob Bucknam, the owner of Soil Grown, tends to CBD plants inside a tented greenhouse Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, in Carbondale, Ill. “We grow and harvest and sell our own CBD flowers. This is just one of the beginning phases of it. We’ve had the place since February but COVID affected us pretty hard as far as getting the doors open. We didn’t really open the doors until July and ya know we’re just now starting to see an uptick in sales as people are finding out we’re here,” Bucknam said.

Photo of the Day: Local CBD

By James Allen, Staff Photographer • November 14, 2020
“We grow and harvest and sell our own CBD flowers. This is just one of the beginning phases of it. We’ve had the place since February but COVID affected us pretty hard as far as getting the doors open. We didn’t really open the doors until July and ya know we’re just now starting to see an uptick in sales as people are finding out we’re here,” Bucknam said.
Pradip Acharya, an international student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, rides his bike in the morning on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020, in Carbondale, Ill. “I used to go to the Rec Center regularly for exercise, but since COVID-19, I do not feel safe to go to the Rec Center. I find cycling a very good exercise and enjoy it in the early morning. COVID-19 has messed up our life, but I feel health is more important above all the hurdles. I hope everything will be fine in the end,” Acharya said.

Photo of the Day: Cycling during COVID-19

By Monica Sharma, Staff Photographer • November 13, 2020
“I used to go to the Rec Center regularly for exercise, but since COVID-19, I do not feel safe to go to the Rec Center. I find cycling a very good exercise and enjoy it in the early morning," Acharya said.
Braden Matthews, Student Center Bowling & Billiards staff member, shoots a cue ball during a game of billiards with Seth Traiteur at the Bowling & Billiards' Dollar Night event inside the Students Center Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020. Due to COVID-19, Matthews has noticed a decline in students coming to the Bowling & Billiards. "There are some days where people won't come in for two hours," Matthews said.

Photo of the Day: Bowling & Billiards’ Dollar Night

By Jared Treece, Staff Photographer • November 10, 2020
"There are some days where people won't come in for two hours," Matthews said.
Shree Krishna Tripathi, an international, master’s student in the Department of Civil Engineering, visits the Hindu Temple and Cultural Society of Southern Illinois on Friday, Nov. 6, 2020, in Carbondale, Ill. “I usually come here when I feel low and stressed out. Visiting here makes me feel calm and peaceful. Another big [Hindu] festival, Tihar, is coming up and I am really excited to celebrate it," Tripathi said. "I have my thesis defense today and visiting the temple and worshiping here gives me positive vibes and makes me more confident."

Photo of the Day: Civil Engineer graduate student worships before defending thesis

By Monica Sharma, Staff Photographer • November 7, 2020
“I usually come here when I feel low and stressed out. Visiting here makes me feel calm and peaceful. Another big [Hindu] festival, Tihar, is coming up and I am really excited to celebrate it," Tripathi said. "I have my thesis defense today and visiting the temple and worshiping here gives me positive vibes and makes me more confident."
Fernando Sanchez, a senior majoring in art, works on a tattoo Nov. 4, 2020, in Carbondale Ill. Sanchez said that he originally started as an engineering major but decided to study drawing instead. “I view this as another art form because at school I’m a fine artist. It’s a really nice opportunity to challenge myself with another type of canvas but still sustain myself as an artist,” Sanchez said.

Photo of the Day: Tattoo as an art

By Madison Taylor, Staff Photographer • November 6, 2020
“I view this as another art form because at school I’m a fine artist. It’s a really nice opportunity to challenge myself with another type of canvas but still sustain myself as an artist,” Sanchez said.
Bristi Poudel, an international, second-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Physiology, celebrates Nepal's largest Hindu festival in her apartment Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020, in Carbondale, Ill. “I feel like missing home while celebrating the biggest festival, Dashain,” Poudel said. "Receiving blessings and tika from the elder ones and putting tika to the younger ones gives me immense joy when I think of it. Coming here to the U.S.A. and trying to cope in the different culture is challenging for me but I have not forgotten my values and culture even though I am away from home,” Poudel said. Dashain is one of the major national festivals of Nepal which comes every year during the month of October and lasts for fifteen days. It is the festival of giving blessings to the young and celebrating with friends and family by receiving tika [a mixture of vermillion powder, rice, and yogurt that is worn on the forehead] and jamara [barley sprouts that are often worn behind the ear] from the elder members of the family. By giving tika and jamara to the younger members of the family, they are bestowing good fortune, health, and long life upon them. In Hindu culture, not having jamara and tika during Dashain would be like not having a Christmas tree on Christmas. On this occasion, people wear new clothes, eat delicious food, invite relatives to play cards, and celebrate with love and happiness. Dashain symbolizes the victory of good over evil by representing the victory of the Goddess Durga. According to Hindu Mythology, the demon Mahidhasura created terror in the world where god lives but the Goddess Durga killed the demon. The first nine days symbolize the battle which took place in different manifestations of Durga and Mahishasura. The tenth day is the day when Durga finally defeated Mahidhasura. 

Photo of the Day: Celebrating Nepal’s largest festival away from home

By Monica Sharma, Staff Photographer • October 30, 2020
"Coming here to the U.S.A. and trying to cope in the different culture is challenging for me but I have not forgotten my values and culture even though I am away from home,” Poudel said.
Maria Cavral, a freshman, plays “Spooky Saluki Bingo” in the Student Center Oct. 28, 2020, in Carbondale Ill. “I came to this because I was tired of being in the dorms and this was something to do and have fun with friends,” Cavral said.

Photo of the Day: Spooky Saluki Bingo

By Madison Taylor, Staff Photographer • October 29, 2020
“I came to this because I was tired of being in the dorms and this was something to do and have fun with friends,” Cavral said.
Mark Denzer, operator of Cache Bayou Outfitters, paddles his way through the Cache River Oct. 24, 2020 outside of Ullin, Ill. Cache Bayou Outfitters is a kayak and canoe rental service that also offers tours of the Cache River. As the seasons changing from fall to winter, many outdoor recreational businesses will be closing until spring. Cache Bayou Outfitters will ending their season this Saturday on Halloween.

Photo of the Day: Fall outdoor recreation goes into hibernation

By Jared Treece, Staff Photographer • October 28, 2020
Mark Denzer, the operator of Cache Bayou Outfitters, paddles his way through the Cache River Oct. 24, 2020, outside of Ullin, Ill.
Garrett Burns, a senior studying Criminal Justice, works as at the Student Recreation Center in Carbondale, Ill., Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. “COVID has made us shut a lot of programs down, the ones that are still going are at a limited capacity, masks are enforced, and machines are restricted to help keep separation.” Burns said.

Photo of the Day: SIU Student Rec Center stays open during COVID-19

By Aimee Watts, Staff Photographer • October 27, 2020
“COVID has made us shut a lot of programs down, the ones that are still going are at a limited capacity, masks are enforced, and machines are restricted to help keep separation,” Burns said.
Vienna High School holds a prayer vigil for three students lost in a tragic car accident Sunday, October 25, 2020, in Vienna, Ill. Students Aidan Baker, Brayden King, and Jordan Davidson did not survive the crash and the three other students in the car with them, Dylan Harris, Macie Turvold, and Max Koehler, survived the incident and are currently hospitalized in critical condition.

Photo of the Day: Vienna holds prayer vigil for students involved in car crash

By James Allen, Staff Photographer • October 26, 2020
Students Aidan Baker, Brayden King, and Jordan Davidson did not survive the crash and the three other students in the car with them, Dylan Harris, Macie Turvold, and Max Koehler, survived the incident and are currently hospitalized in critical condition.
Sudip Baral, an international, second-year master’s student from Nepal, prepares solutions for his thesis research Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, in the Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructural Engineering department of the College of Engineering in Carbondale, Ill.” I have been doing research using nanotechnology to convert biomass waste products into biofuels. This research will not only contribute help in the reduction of carbon dioxide gas but also make it economically sustainable,” Baral said.

Photo of the Day: SIU research

By Monica Sharma, Staff Photographer • October 25, 2020
"I have been doing research using nanotechnology to convert biomass waste products into biofuels. This research will not only contribute help in the reduction of carbon dioxide gas but also make it economically sustainable,” Baral said.
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