Central Zone Perspective
All the excitement of being a fresher, joining societies and meeting new people could be felt at each Freshers Fair. The buzz of new found independence and sense of adventure was all around us. Following the smell of incense sticks, we ended up at the NHSF Hindu Society stall. Seeing the committee in their Hindu soc t-shirts and hoodies, explaining their role and encouraging people to join. With murtis on the stall and handmade coconut sweets or chocolates to offer, the committees were advertising their upcoming events and making sure that people knew about the meet & greet, which would be the first insight to the society.
Each chapter had a video which encased everything they had achieved in the past year, from pictures of events to national conference, videos of committee dances to NHSF sports competition. Free food was a common factor between the universities, from bhel, pizza, samosas, jalebis, and gulab jamun to a full Indian meal. But before this, we took part in ice-breakers; massaging the back of the person on your right, learning garba steps, and a chilli eating competition (for those who rose up to the challenge) Other chapters simply connected with the members, by presenting themselves in an approachable, fun manner and introducing our Ishta Devi for this year, Durga Maa to inspire each student.
Despite differences in the way they did things each chapter represented NHSF and its aims to Promote, Preserve, Practice and Protect Hindu Dharma.
North zone so far...So as we are officially in autumn enjoying the wonderful UK rain we realise its that time of year again... the time where academic institutes resume their duties of feeding our minds with weird and wonderful information about the world. At this time of year National Hindu Students Forum is far from dormant. When University begins, so does the excitement of NHSF.
Up in the north, where we get more rain than shine, we kicked off the year by introducing to our family two new chapters, Glasgow and Newcastle, at a fun-filled September Training Day. A vibrant Freshers week in both Leeds and Newcastle was the first instance where we were able to demonstrate how we support each other with committee members from Manchester lending a helping hand at both chapters. This year Navratri fell during Freshers week and North Zone Garba, with the highest ever turnout, was a fitting end to an exhausting week of signing up members. With Freshers weeks across the north coming to an end chapters began holding their Meet and Greet sessions. Hull gave members the chance to meet new people in and informal and friendly environment, Sheffield took their members bowling and Manchester fed 300 hungry students a three course Indian meal at the Temple. Each chapter is now well under way with organising weekly events for their members including debates, sports and Aartis which are building up excitement for the upcoming Hindu Times conference and Sports Competition. In the next few weeks North Zone will be extremely busy with hosting some of the years most anticipated performing arts events: Sheffields Moonlights, Liverpools Momentum, Manchesters Sitaare and Diwali in Huddersfield where we hope you can all join us!
South Zone perspectiveThis event was very important to us as it gave us the chance to interact with all our chapters. It was great to see chapters sharing ideas, experiences, and building bridges.
The fresher fairs within south zone were excellent with committees being a friendly approachable face providing a Home away from Home for their members.
The meet and greets were good, well planed and the committee showed confidence in themselves and their team and were very enthusiastic. They introduced the committee for the upcoming year, explained what they did as a Hindu society and future events being planned for the year. These were followed by ice breakers which were a great success and got the students more involved.
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