Get involved with UEL’s South Asian Festival

The University of East London is proud to host the South Asian Festival, a six-month-long celebration of the rich and diverse cultures of South Asia. The festival promises to be an unforgettable experience, offering a vibrant tapestry of traditions, music, dance, cuisine, and art that will captivate and educate attendees. 

The inaugural festival kicked off on October 30, with an opening ceremony event featuring keynote speakers including Councillor Mohd Shahid Alam from the Indian High Commission, Baroness Uddin, and TV personality Raj Bisram. The ceremony also saw a number of performances including from Dance to Inspire – an award-winning local Bollywood dance company – who had the entire audience up and dancing. Each dance told a story, bringing to life the vibrant traditions of South Asia.

Why are we hosting the South Asian Festival at UEL?

Cultural Awareness and Education: One of our primary objectives is to enhance cultural awareness and understanding among students, faculty, and the wider community. By showcasing the unique traditions and heritage of South Asia, we aim to foster a greater appreciation for its rich cultural diversity.

Community Engagement: We strive to bring together individuals from various backgrounds to celebrate and learn from each other. The festival serves as a platform for meaningful interactions, fostering a sense of unity and inclusivity within our diverse local community.

Preservation and Promotion of Heritage: Through our festival, we aim to preserve and promote the traditional art forms, music, dance, and culinary practices of South Asia. By providing a stage for these cultural expressions, we hope to keep these traditions alive for future generations.

Encouragement of Creativity and Innovation: The festival encourages creativity and innovation by blending traditional and contemporary elements. Through various workshops and performances, attendees can explore new ways of expressing South Asian culture in a modern context.

Academic and Professional Development: We aim to integrate academic perspectives with cultural experiences. Through lectures, panel discussions, and networking events, students and professionals can gain insights into the social, economic, and political aspects of South Asia.

Upcoming festival highlights

  • Quo Vadis South Asia? The Future of South Asia: Our symposium on the Business, Law and Innovation Development will bring together keynote speakers and panel discussions furthering the academic debate about vibrant South Asia.
  • Cultural Workshops: Experience the South Asian culture with our students who will be leading a day of workshops celebrating South Asian including traditional arts and crafts (e.g. Rangoli) and dance.
  • South Asia Film Poster and Postcard Exhibition: Explore the rich artistic heritage of South Asia through exhibitions showcasing traditional images from Bollywood Films and postcards.
  • South Asian Cinema Week:  Watch critically acclaimed films from South Asian cinema that highlight cultural, social, and political themes. Post-screening discussions will provide deeper insights into the context and significance of each film.
  • International Cricket League Tournament: Get involved with our cricket tournament where staff, students and local community will get the opportunity to join teams of 8-a-side cricket. 
  • International South Asian Agents Day: We will be showcasing our resources and programmes for our international Agents.
  • South Asian Book Fair and Launch of the South Asia Book Club: Get involved with our book club, where we will be showcasing renowned South Asian authors.
  • Model United Nations Special Day on South Asia: Join us to observe the showcase student-led general assembly on peace, security, and development in South Asia.
  • Immigrant Journeys from South Asia to UK: Meet Professor Siraj Sait and his screens of his journey from India to UK and get involved with the discussions on the UK diaspora’s connections with South Asia.
  • Focus Asia Careers and Employability Fair: Explore our career fair connecting students with opportunities in the UK, South Asia and globally.  There will be keynote speakers from industry professionals in health, technology, and business
  • Commonwealth and South Asia – Strengthening Partnerships:  Join our conference designed to strengthen our networks and partnerships.
  • Local Histories Tour of East London: Get your walking boots on and join us on our walking tour of historic South Asian community spaces and listen to our speakers about the South Asian diaspora’s contributions to East London.
  • South Asian Communities – Race, Policing and Justice: Offer your views at our interactive discussions with groups like Southall Black Sisters on Human Rights and Justice.
  • Dealing with Mental Health in South Asian Communities: We welcome you to join our event with our Health team in this very important area of mental health. 
  • Closing Ceremony: Come along to our final event which will celebrate all that we have achieved at our South Asian Festival over the past six months and observe our awards and recognitions for outstanding contributions.
Young woman in traditional Bharatanatyam dance costume, adorned with colourful jewelry and intricate headpiece. She is wearing a vibrant sari in shades of pink and green with gold accents, along with layered necklaces and bangles.

Why should you get involved?

The University of East London’s South Asian Festival is a celebration of the cultural richness and diversity of South Asia. It’s an opportunity to learn, engage, and be inspired by the beauty of South Asian traditions. 

We invite everyone to play a part in the Festival and join us in this journey of discovery and celebration. We look forward to sharing the vibrant spirit of South Asia with you. 

Let's make this six-month celebration an unforgettable experience together.