Celebrate Diwali in Style at our much anticipated Diwali boat party. Come and cruise with us on the most luxurious boat on the River Thames to celebrate the festival of Diwali, bollywood style!

After being greeted by professional photographer, see the beauty of London by night whilst enjoying a delicious 3 course Indian meal and dance the night away!! Tickets for this event always sell out fast, so get them early to avoid disappointment!

Click here to go to the Facebook event!

TICKET SALES:
★ MEMBERS = £20
★ NON-MEMBERS = £23
★ Tickets are on sale everyday at the CSC – 2nd floor of the Bloomsbury building from 1pm-2pm and 5pm-6pm
★ Alternatively call 07595905237 for more details

17th October 2009: Today is the Hindu, Jain and Sikh festival of Diwali (or Dīpāvali) meaning ‘garland of lights’. There are many legends and important events associated with this highly auspicious day. While Diwali is popularly known as the “festival of lights”, the most significant spiritual meaning is “the awareness of the inner light”.

Central to Sanatana Dharma is the assertion that there is something beyond the physical body and mind which is pure, infinite, and eternal, called the Atman. Just as we celebrate the birth of our physical being, Diwali is the celebration of this inner light, in particular the knowing of which outshines all darkness (removes all obstacles and dispels all ignorance), awakening the individual to one’s true nature, not as the body, but as the unchanging, infinite, immanent and transcendent reality. With the realization of the Atman comes universal compassion, love, and the awareness of the oneness of all things (higher knowledge). This brings Ananda (inner joy or peace).

The gunas are the underlying forces or tendencies which one needs to have unaffected, direct relation with in order to find effectiveness and righteousness in life: they are lines of potential and illuminate thought and action, thus the inner meaning of Diwali being the festival of lights.

Deepavali celebrates this through festive fireworks, lights, flowers, sharing of sweets, and worship. While the story behind Diwali varies from region to region, the essence is the same – to rejoice in the inner light (Atman) or the underlying reality of all things (Brahman).

For more information on Diwali, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali.

7th October 2009: Today is the Hindu festival of Karva Chauth. As the name signifies, ‘Karva’ meaning a clay pot and ‘chauth’ corresponding to the fourth, this festival is commemorated on the fourth day after the Full Moon in the Kartik month of the Hindu calendar. The festival is glorified and widely solemnized by many Hindus all over the world. On this day it is customary for the wife to fast for the whole day. She does not drink water either. She paints her hands and feet with henna, dresses generally in red apparel and on her hair parting she smears vermilion powder. This Karva Chauth fast is undertaken by the wife, to ensure that the husband enjoys a long and prosperous life.

A few days before Karva Chauth, married women buy new karvas, the spherical clay pots, and paint them on the outside with beautiful designs. Inside the pot, they put bangles and ribbons, home-made candy and sweets, make-up items and small clothes. The women then visit each other on the day of Karva Chauth or immediately afterwards, and exchange these karvas. Season-wise, soon after the harvest, it is an excellent time to enjoy festivities, meet one another and exchange gifts. During the time of Karva Chauth, parents send gifts to their married daughters and their children.

There are many stories that suggest the origin of Karva Chauth. The following is one such story that we were able to find:

In ancient times, girls used to get married at a very early age, and had to go to live with their in-laws in other villages. After marriage, if she faces any problem with her in-laws or her husband, she would have no one from whom to seek support. Her own parents and relatives would be quite far and unreachable. Thus the custom started that, at the time of marriage, when a bride would reach her in-laws, she would befriend another woman there who would be her friend or sister for life. In the same way that we have a god-mother or a god-father today, they were considered to be like god-sisters. Once the bride and this other woman had become god-friends or god-sisters, they would remain so all their lives and recognize the relation as such.

Later in life, if the woman faces any difficulty relating to her husband or in-laws, she would be able to confidently talk to or seek help from her god-sister. Thus, Karva Chauth was started as a festival to celebrate this relationship between the once-brides and their god-sisters. Fasting and praying for their husbands came later and is secondary. The husband would always be associated with this festival because the day of starting this holy friendship between two god-sisters was essentially the day of the girl’s marriage. Sources: http://www.karwachauth.com/origin-and-significance.html, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karwa_Chauth.

If you know of any other stories relating to the origin of Karva Chauth, please feel free to share them with us! Leave a comment!

Our annual Garba is always good fun for those who attend! With a live band and disco dandia, this event is one not to be missed! Tickets will be available at the Welcome Mela. Make sure you get your tickets fast, as they often sell out within a few days! This year it will be held at Shoreditch Town Hall. With a capacity of 350, you’ll be sure to have an amazing night with all your friends!

Click here to go to the Facebook event!

Getting to Shoreditch Town Hall:
By tube or rail: Liverpool Street (15 minutes’ walk) or Old Street (Exit 3 – 7 minutes’ walk).

By bus: Routes 26, 35, 47, 48, 55, 67, 78, 135, 149, 242 and 243 stop nearby.

By car: Shoreditch Town Hall is outside the Congestion Charge area, but parking is very restricted and mostly metered. The Town Hall has no dedicated parking spaces.

Our exciting Welcome Mela attracts hundreds of students throughout the day! It will be a fun filled event involving music, food, games and stalls! Even some surprise acts! This is your chance to meet your Hindu Society, its committee and members! There is also the opportunity to sign up to our annual variety show, Rangeela, and other planned events throughout the year! Tickets for Garba will also be on sale. Don’t miss out!

Click here to go to the Facebook event!

Your chance to meet over 150 clubs and societies! At Freshers’ Fayre you will get a taste of the events we organise throughout the year! It will be your first chance to sign up to events, as well as register your interest in being a part of our society. We will be excited to tell you about our plans for the coming year, and how you can take part in performances at our shows! Don’t forget to look out for the freebies!