As students proudly display their sarees and kurtas on campus in honour of the DU Ethnic Day Celebration, a new trend has emerged. The saari ka pallu and kurtas are a fashion statement. These has garnered a lot of traction among students from different colleges inside the university. They have used social media sites like Instagram to post pictures of their ethnic outfits, perfectly evoking the culture.
DU Ethnic Day Celebration
One could question why there has been such a dramatic increase in people dressing traditionally. According to Yogita Yadav, a first-year student pursuing a BA (Hons) in Political Science at Shaheed Bhagat Singh (Evening) College (SBSC), the aim of DU ethnic day celebration is to underscore the importance of preserving our culture and traditions. In a fast-paced world where the rush to appear ‘cool’ in casuals can sometimes overshadow these traditions. The Ethnic Day celebrations serve as a reminder of our rich heritage and the need to cherish it.
Hansraj College students are known for showcasing their fashion flair during the campus’s DU ethnic day celebration. Meanwhile, SBSC (Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College) is all set to host ‘Divyotsav’. It is a DU Ethnic Day celebration event, next week, aiming to highlight and celebrate Indian culture. The event will feature a range of competitions, including dancing, singing, painting, poetry, and photography. A unique requirement is that entries must deeply resonate with Indian traditions and reflect an aspect of them. This emphasis on incorporating cultural roots into these creative expressions has made Ethnic Day celebrations increasingly popular across the university.
Yogita Yadav, elaborates on the significance of these festivities, stating that they provide an opportunity to pay tribute to the rich diversity of India. She notes that students from various parts of the country come to Delhi University to pursue their education. This makes it a true melting pot of cultures. Yash Pandita, a second-year student majoring in English (Hons) at Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College, serves as the cultural secretary for the team that recently organised a DU ethnic day celebration. Further, he shares that during this occasion that their peers donned attire like phulkari dupattas and mekhela chadors. By doing this, they were paying homage to their ancestors and emphasising the unity in diversity that DU represents. These Ethnic Day celebrations create a sense of belonging and community among the diverse student body at the university.
A similar event recently took place at Hansraj College. Here students gathered around the Mitti Cafe and Lover’s Point to flaunt their outfits with a “retro and filmi vibe.” Soham Sharma Malhotra, a first-year student majoring in BA (Hons) History, expressed, “Ethnic Day is an innovative concept that encourages freshmen to relax and enjoy themselves while staying connected to their cultural heritage. This occasion provided an excellent opportunity for many students to connect with their peers and upperclassmen.”
Recently, Lady Shri Ram College (LSR) for Women recently celebrated Project Bahubhashi which is also known as Bahubhashi Day. This unique event, held on a Thursday, was designed to pay tribute to the rich linguistic diversity of our nation. The central theme of the day revolved around embracing ethnic attire, as Vidhi Kanojia, a second-year student pursuing a BA (Hons) in Journalism, aptly explained. She expressed, “Students showcased their cultural heritage by dressing in traditional garments from their respective states. Some even chose to don costumes that represented states they admired but didn’t belong to.”
As Vidhi Kanojia mentioned, students engaged in exchanges where they shared insights into various languages from different regions of India. To further enhance the experience, the event featured stalls that exhibited artefacts from various corners of the country. This provided a visual and educational platform for attendees to explore the diverse cultural tapestry of India.
Conclusion
Adding to the festive atmosphere of the day, students participated in folk music and dance performances, creating a lively ambience filled with the vibrant and diverse traditions of our country. Project Bahubhashi at LSR was not only a celebration of India’s linguistic diversity. It was also a delightful way for students to come together and celebrate their shared heritage while respecting the uniqueness of each state.
