November Presents the Multicultural AUW Community Celebrating Diwali and Welcome to My Country

Nusaiba Binte Zakaria and Sonam Upelma

AUW’s enthusiasm for fostering its cultural diversity was highlighted on 7th November, when the Office of Student Activities organized a Diwali celebration in the AUW lane during the evening.

There was a festive mood, and the students enjoyed dancing to the music while the lane was decorated with different lights. In addition to the fireworks, Bengali sweets (Ladu) were also distributed to share the joy of the festival.

Students pose for a picture during the Diwali celebration. Taken from AUW Chittagong Instagram Page

Students pose for a picture during the Diwali celebration.
Taken from AUW Chittagong Instagram Page

Rodela Hasan, an Access Academy student, said, “I was very excited because I was celebrating Diwali for the first time.”  Sanam Gul, a final year student, expressed that festivals such as Diwali unify people in celebration despite their differences. She also added that as she was graduating soon, she will cherish these colorful festivals celebrated together with her international friends.

Despite their busy schedules, the students of Access Academy still had energy to prepare for yet another program the next day. Welcome To My Country is an annual program for the new students to showcase their cultural diversity, and in the process cherish their differences.

“The day of 8th November 2018 shall remain as one my favorite days as I got to see diverse cultures and their traditions, which made me realize that though we are different from one another, we still are similar in some ways,” said Eileen, an Access student from India.

The campus was not only filled with ladies in different attires, but also with tables full of food from all over the world. The day ended fruitfully and joyously, and with students beaming with pride and happiness as they presented their culture.

Noor Ziarka, a Syrian student in Access Academy, exclaimed that this program is vital in building bonds with her international friends.

With the semester coming to an end, November is a hectic month, yet AUW still comes together to celebrate events together as a community.