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The Huntington News NU SANSKRITI PLANS NORTHEASTERN’S FIRST-EVER INDIAN HERITAGE MONTH
For NU Sanskriti, Indian Heritage Month is a time for celebration, creativity and community.
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There are almost 8,000 Indian undergraduate and graduate students at the university, and NU Sanskriti represents a large student population and is one of the biggest Indian Student Associations in the United States. The organization was founded over 20 years ago. This month, NU Sanskriti has organized Northeastern’s first Indian Heritage Month, looking to provide a safe haven for Indian students in unique and artistic ways.
NU Sanskriti is composed of students with heritage from across India, many of whom speak different languages, follow different faiths and have a diverse set of traditions. With a variety of groups, or “portfolios,” students can join, the club hopes to provide a platform for students to express themselves.
“We celebrate different festivals, we have different cultures and along with that, we have different events where people can showcase their talents,” said NU Sanskiriti President Sakshi Chougle, a graduate student studying project management.
By Jessica Silverman | News Staff
For the first time ever, the group is hosting 14 events, along with daily guided meditation and yoga sessions, as part of Indian Heritage Month. These events are intended to share Indian culture with the larger North eastern community. The group felt inspired to take on this effort after feeling underrepresented in campus celebrations.
“We found that Indians are onethird of the university and we aren’t getting that particular representation [on campus], so we decided to go ahead with [these events] just so people can feel at home and so others know what’s going on and what Indian culture is about,” said Vatsal Kapadia, a graduate student studying information systems. “It’s not just about namaste and yoga, it’s much more than that.”
Kapadia, who serves as the club’s head of finance and sponsorship, explained the purpose of these events is to make sure everyone, no matter how far they are from their home country, feels some sense of belonging.
