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ISSUE 855 NOVEMBER 19 2007 CARDIFF’S STUDENT WEEKLY free word - EST. 1972
INSIDE...NEWS/JOBS&MONEY/FEATURES/TAF-OD/OPINION
DIWALI DELIGHT
Students come together to mark Cardiff Uni’s largest ever Festival of Light Corinne Rhoades News Editor Diwali has been celebrated in style at Cardiff University, as the YUVA Youth of India Society (YUVA) held its biggest ever Diwali ball. This year’s festival of Diwali saw members of the Students’ Union (SU) executive team, some Cardiff Uni sports societies, and students from a variety of cultures come together with YUVA
members to mark the most auspicious date in the Hindu calendar. Over 500 students attended the ball, which was held at Monchino’s in Mary Ann Street on Friday November 9. All the guests, who were also given a three course Indian meal, donned traditional Indian dress to fully experience the festival of Diwali and see in the Hindu New Year. But Shreenivas Raju, President and Founder of YUVA, told gair rhydd that Diwali has not always had such a high
profile at Cardiff. He said: “I set up the society three and a half years ago because I did not feel that Indian students were being well represented by the Union. ” Initial numbers proved the popularity of the YUVA initiative as over 200 students gathered for their first Diwali ball. The society now exists as a voice for Indian students, with a forum set up to ensure any issues or grievances are taken to a higher authority.
Societies International and Postgraduate Officer, Sally Airey, attended this year’s ball. She said: “I think from a homestudent’s perspective, an awful assumption can often be made about international students not wanting to go out and enjoy themselves.” But most students never see this side of culture when they go out. It was such an amazing atmosphere which really opens your eyes,” she continued. With this in mind, the ball has been
said to foreshadow the SU’s launch of Go Global next February. Acting as a replacement for Global Village, the fortnight-long festival of culture will give Cardiff University students a chance to sample the different traditions and cultures encapsulated by all the SU societies. The initiative is one that has been
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