By Kishan Rabheru
NHSF (UK) Campus Team
On Wednesday 24th October at the Radha Swami Rasilia Satsung Centre in Birmingham; 13 Universities across the midlands gathered on the auspicious day of Dussera to celebrate a night of Navratri like no other!!
Navratri, also referred to as Nine Nights, is one of the great Hindu festivals signifying the triumph of good over evil. The tenth day is known as Dussera, meaning remover of ten which refers to Lord Rama’s victory over the ten-headed demon King Ravan in the battle of good vs evil, therefore the day of dussera is seen as an extremely auspicious day.
The event, organised by the National Hindu Students’ Forum (NHSF (UK)), saw over 900 students and local community gather to celebrate a night of colour, rhythm and tradition. Through careful planning and a lot of effort by a young team of students-the evening saw a spectacular extravaganza take place and what can only be described by the local community as an ‘Amazing’ night of celebration. It was also inspiring for the older generation to see so many young Hindu’s gather and be a part of such a great festival united together to worship God through Navratri.
Not only did the night consist of singing and dancing, it showcased the core values of NHSF (UK); through sewa and learning stalls, as well as supporting the NHSF (UK) national charity – Manav Sadna. The event also supported the Anthony Nolan Trust in raising awareness about bone marrow and how people can get involved to help save lives.
Overall, the evening was described as one of the best garba events in NHSF (UK) history amongst the students and the local community. Showcasing a variety of religious dances, traditional Indian cuisine, the support of major charities and the unity of a wider community across the UK; this event has definitely set a high standard for others to follow.