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George Washington University observes South Asian Heritage month
The South Asian Heritage Month kicked off with a mock South Asian wedding event on March 1.
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The mock shaadi at GWU, highlighted the story of Heer Ranjha, a celebrated legend of two lovers to celebrate South Asian Heritage Celebration month’s storytelling theme. / GWToday/SaherMir
Students at George Washington University (GWU) will observe South Asian Heritage Celebration (SAHC) in March, under the theme ‘Once Upon a Time: Weaving the Threads of Tradition, Diversity, and Resilience through the Art of Storytelling.’
Festivities for the student-led event that promotes the values and traditions of Central and South Asian cultures kicked off on March 1, marking the 11th-year of celebrations.
A mock shaadi (South Asian wedding celebration) was staged with all cultural staples such as food, music, and multiple dance performances. Volunteers dressed up as the bride and groom were part of the party.
Mock shaadis (weddings) events are popular across colleges in the US. The Columbia University, University of Texas at Austin, Stanford University, and the University of Toronto Scarborough hosted pretend wedding events in 2023 attended by droves of South Asian students. The Stanford event featured not one but four pretend couples, as per reports.
The mock shaadi at GWU, highlighted the story of Heer Ranjha, a celebrated legend of two lovers to celebrate South Asian Heritage Celebration month’s storytelling theme.
GW Indian Students Association (ISA) co-chair Aditi Venkateswaran, said celebrating the South Asian Heritage Month helps students from the diaspora to learn more about their culture and appreciate it. “I also learn more about other people in my community,” she added.
“I'm not Muslim, but I love to learn about Pakistani Muslim culture. We all come together and accept ourselves for who we are. I think that's a beautiful part of it,” Venkateswaran said. She co-chaired the SAHC 2024 alongside Nafia Lalani of GW South Asian Society and Saher Mir of GW’s Pakistani Students Organization.
Other events during the South Asian Heritage Month at GW include the ISA Stranger Project (storytelling) on March 2 at the GW Museum, a food event on March 22, SAHC comedy show on March 23, and an iftar event on March 24. Furthermore, Holi celebrations, a campfire, bhangra night, and a poetry event are scheduled until April 13.
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