The Hindu society celebrated one of the biggest festivals of the year on Thursday 19th October. Diwali is the Hindu festival of light- the festival celebrates the victory of good over evil, light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. It is a time typically celebrated with friends and family which of course isn’t always simple when you’re miles away from home at university. The Hindu society hosted a huge celebration at Medicine to bring everyone who wanted to rejoice together. When I asked one girl if she missed her family during such a festive occasion she replied, ‘this is my second family,’ which was really humbling to hear.
There was clearly a great sense of belonging for everyone in the room and a huge sense of welcoming to anyone who didn’t typically practice the religion.
The room was a sea of colour. Everyone looked gorgeous; I fell in love with every sari I saw, with their detailed embroidery and rich colouring. The boys also looked extremely dapper, not to be outdone by the girls. It was lovely to see everyone joining in the dancing and they seemed to be having a genuinely great time. There was a clear hybrid between the Hindu culture and university culture with music from the UK’s top 40 to Bollywood classics. As the night went on, more and more people flooded onto the dancefloor. A few dancers definitely impressed and stole the spotlight showing off some of the finest traditional and contemporary moves. When the dancing got too much, one was lured in by the delicious scent on Indian food being served throughout the night. This fuelled everyone’s appetite and meant there was absolutely no excuse why anyone couldn’t dance the night away.
There was clearly a great sense of belonging for everyone in the room and a huge sense of welcoming to anyone who didn’t typically practice the religion. One group told me that they didn’t practice Hinduism but adored the culture and wanted to be part of such an uplifting celebration.
The president of the Hindu society claims there are around 67 members of the society. It’s a great way to meet people who share the same beliefs as you, or even to learn about new beliefs. They’re a lovely bunch and it’s never too late to join. Simply go to their page on the SU website for more information.
Happy belated Diwali!