"Our team is fuelled by the belief that no obstacle is too big when it comes to delivering an epic celebration" - Pooja Bora, President of SISA

Once again, our SISA society has impressively hosted its annual Holi celebration, which was a great success this year.  We caught up with the President of the SISA Society, Pooja Bora to get a closer look at the inner workings of their society event. Read along to find out about this vibrant cultural celebration and how you can get involved in the future!

What is Rang De’25?

Rang De is one of the biggest celebrations in Indian culture, which acknowledges the arrival of spring. The event is named ‘Holi’ which means the festival of colours. Pooja explains that this festival symbolizes renewal, unity and the triumph of good over evil.  "‘Holi, known as the festival of colours, is one of the most cherished and widely celebrated festivals in India." The festival celebrates community, with other festivals around the world symbolizing similar principles.

The event was held on the 15th of March in our very own Rottenrow Gardens, the perfect outdoor space on campus for our students to socialise and soak up some Scottish sun!

What happens at the event?

Event goers were encouraged to wear white tops as the main highlight of the event was throwing colourful powder, hence it is known as the ‘Festival of Colours’. Not only was each person in vibrant hues but there was also music, dancing and delicious food to entertain attendees. Pooja explained this was tailored to match the energetic spirit of Holi, making it a true representation of Indian culture in Scotland.  Adding that, "Students can reconnect with their cultural roots and celebrate cherished traditions"

Who is behind the success?

One of our very own societies, the Strathclyde Indian Student Association organised this event for our community. SISA aims to bring Indian culture to Strathclyde, where our community can bond over shared appreciation for this celebration. This is why SISA has organized Rang De’25, to make the Holi celebration global.

SISA has emphasized the importance of holding the celebration to ease homesickness among international students. This makes campus life more inclusive and international students can feel more connected to their home culture. The union is proud to be able to provide these opportunities to students through societies like SISA. Whether you’ve celebrated Holi before or are experiencing it for the first time, the event welcomes everyone which fosters a strong sense of community in the heart of Glasgow.

SISA not only organises the Holi celebration but there is also a number of other events they want to promote to the Strathclyde community. SISA has brought game nights, sports screenings and dance sessions to its members to create a society in which every person can be involved no matter their interests. Becoming a member of SISA is a fantastic opportunity to get more involved with the Union and experience the rich cultural diversity of Strathclyde.

Behind the scenes of the Rang De’25 Event

This event has been particularly hard to organise this year as it coincided with industrial action taken by some of the university staff. Due to the university’s failure to compromise with the striking staff, additional measures had to be taken to ensure the event could run smoothly.

Despite these hiccups, SISA successfully collaborated with the university staff to make the event a success. Not only was there a scramble to find a generator to replace the electricity box, but SISA arranged backup shelters in case the Scottish weather took a turn. Their dedicated preparation ensured that the event ran seamlessly despite the rocky start.

SISA reflects on all of the chaos being worth it. Their ultimate goal was to make the attendees' day filled with joy and celebration, and they certainly delivered!

Written by Isabella Shepherd

Pictures from Arwen Moses