Diwali is one of the most auspicious and widely celebrated festivals in India. Also, known as the festival of lights, it signifies the victory of good over bad and the dominance of light over darkness. It is celebrated with the same zeal and enthusiasm just like people celebrate Christmas in western countries.
While the festivities add spark to people around giving them reasons to socialise and celebrate, it also becomes a little hard for some when you are away from your home and miss being with your family and friends. If you an international student, who has newly moved to a country where the festival is not celebrated, you not only miss the festive vibe, but you also feel anxious as you are away from your loved ones. You miss the food, the festival rituals, socialising with friends, lighting up Diyas and candles, and not to mention- dressing up.
The University of Dundee welcome diverse ethnic and religious groups. There are over 200 societies registered at DUSA open to students, based on their area of interests and origin.
The University focuses on giving the best student experience and make the most of your student life while you are on campus, especially when you are an international student in the University of Dundee. Besides you study and regular routine, you may take part in various social events hosted at the University discover new things and make new friends. You will come across regular events, trips, social gatherings just to make you feel comfortable in the new environment.
Diwali is organised by the University of Dundee Indian Society. The society’s main goal is to unite students from India and other countries. With the events and cultural programmes, they try their best to welcome students to the University and provide them with the best student experience while they are away from their home country. Besides cultural events, they also organise Bollywood nights, trips, parties and meetings to allow everyone to get to know each other, socialise together and just have some fun. The society is open to all.
A student’s life demands commitment toward studies and assignments, but it doesn’t have to be a long journey at all. To make it enjoyable and to fill those missing gaps, we at the University try our best to provide such a homely environment for our international students by organising regular events and social gatherings.
What connects people? Their origin? Language? Festivals? Yes, everything and a lot more. Just when you move to a new country and start a new life, you miss your home, food and your people. You are ready to make new friends, try new food but a part of you silently craves for your comfort zone, doesn’t it?
To make this journey less uncomfortable, every year the University of Dundee takes measures to celebrate different festivities and events from different countries with utmost enthusiasm. The sole aim is making everyone feel they belong here.
On 22 October, the University of Dundee Indian Society celebrated Diwali with the Indian and non-Indian members to give them a feeling of home away from home. The event was celebrated at Bonar Hall, at the University premises. Students found it welcoming and had a great time.
Students joined along with their friends and families. They enjoyed the scrumptious food, showed up in their best desi- attires, there were scintillating dance performances by the students on the latest and greatest Indian dance numbers and lots more fun! The event added light to the middle of autumn this week as they celebrated Diwali.
Before the Diwali Celebration, the University of Dundee Indian society organised an ice-breaker social gathering event at DUSA offering chai and samosa to the committee members and non-members. Followed by the welcome dinner at Taaza which offered students a unique taste of desi dishes in Dundee, and garba night to tap their feet on the latest dance numbers. Events organised are, open for the committee members and non-members. All these events were well received and fully booked.
Priyanka Joshi is a web content writer and advice & support officer at DUSA.
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