Lent 2012
CUHCS Explore; Ideas of God: Bhagvad Gita and the Vedas, 5 March 2013
Mastana, 2 March 2013
Soul Sounds, 16 February 2013
Explore: The Life and Teachings of Swami Vivekananda, 12 February 2013
Sewa Day, 1 February 2013
Soul Sounds, 28 January 2013
Pongal, 20 January 2013
Michaelmas 2012
Diwali Dinner, 24 November 2012
Religion and Culture: the
effects on India's people, 20 November 2012
Raas Leela, 27 October 2012
Soulsounds, 17 October 2012
Hinduism Unveiled, 14 October 2012
Mastana Launch, 12 October 2012
Fresher's Squash, 8 October 2012
Fresher's Fair, 2 and 3 October 2012
Karmic Talkies, every Wednesday
Yoga Classes, every Thursday
Easter 2012
Band Baaja Baraat: CUHCS Garden Party, 15 June 2012
Saraswati Pooja, 28 April 2012
CUHCS Explore
Ideas of God: Bhagvad Gita and the Vedas
Tuesday 5 March 2013
19:00—20:30
Sidgewick Hall, Newnham College, Cambridge
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Curious about what is mentioned in the Vedas? Intrigued about the story contained within the Bhagavad Gita? What do these scriptures say about our Gods? How can the ideas behind them guide our lives? Come along and joining Shaunaka Rishi Das and find the answers to these and much more. CUHCS are proud to welcome Shaunaka Rishi Das, the Director of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies to lead this discussion. Mr Shaunaka Rishi Das is the first Hindu Chaplain to Oxford University in its 800 year inception. Interested in spirituality and philosophical reading since the tender age of fourteen, he has been known for his work on numerous documentaries as well as articles for leading newspapers including The Guardian and The Independent.
Soul Sounds
Saturday 16 February 2013
20:00
Boys Smith Room, St John's College
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Come along to enjoy an energetic, lively and memorable time and join in, singing beautiful bhajans (devotional songs), uplifting everyone's spirits!
Everyone who attended last year had an amazing time and left with smiling faces! This is an event that involves everybody – everyone is welcome to come and encouraged to sing along or just enjoy the vibes!
Whether it's your first time going to a bhajan event, or you've been there before, Soul Sounds looks forward to seeing you there!
Explore: The Life and Teachings of Swami Vivekananda
Tuesday 12 February 2013
19:00 — 20:30
Sidgwick Hall, Newnham College, Cambrdige
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The year 2013 marks 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, a dynamic Hindu monk whose message of divinity of individual soul and universal brotherhood is as relevant today as it was during his time. As part of the international celebrations (supported by the Indian Government), we invited Jay Lakhani to address the society and its friends about this influential character.
Swami Vivekananda is widely claimed to be the first Hindu monk to create an impact of Hinduism in the West. His famous addresses at the first World Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893 gave a blueprint on the future world peace and harmony based on the universal religion as enunciated by Hindu traditions of the East.
CUHCS Sewa Day
Friday 1 February 2013
As a Hindu Society, we feel strongly about giving back to the community we live in. We understand as students that money isn't always in abundance but this isn't what we'd want from you. In Cambridge more than at other unis, time is truly precious but we want you to spare an hour if you can and join us in a big day on fundraising!
MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO THE LIVES OF REFUGEES
CUHCS is teaming up with RAG and Student Action for Refugees on Friday 1st Feb! Join us for this great opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of refugees - people fleeing persecution because of their faith, colour, class, gender, sexuality. Asylum seekers & refugees are severely marginalised across the world, including in the UK - demonised by the press, randomly detained, banned from working and forced to survive on £5/day benefits by politicians.
Just an hour bucket-shaking is all we ask. Sign up on the Doodle poll with your hermes and all the hours you're available (and write how many you want to do beside your name if you're available all day but want to do a couple of hours, for instance).
Soul Sounds—Mandir Edition
Friday 1 February 2013
20:15—22:15
Bharat Bhavan (off Mill Road) Cambridge, CB1 2AZ
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Keep Monday 28th January, 8.15pm free - the first Soul Sounds of Lent term is happening! To give the term an uplifting start, we are holding Soul Sounds at the local Mandir (Bharat Bhavan) for the first time!
We hope the peaceful atmosphere, in the presence of beautiful murti's will make the evening very tranquil. It will also give the chance for students and local community members to get together and sing to everyone's heart's content.
Soul Sounds is Cambridge's own monthly bhajan 'jam' (singing devotional songs). Everybody is invited to sing, clap or hum along to a range of bhajans and kirtans. If you have not been before, or are unfamiliar with listening to bhajans, then this is a great way to experience it!
The format of the event is simply attendees singing bhajans of their choice, and anyone who wants to can sing along, clap or play an instrument. We will end with an aarti and some sweet prashad. There is a really relaxed atmosphere, yet it can get really upbeat and lively!
Pongal
Sunday 20 January 2013, 12.30pm
Chetwynd Room, King's College
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Pongal is an important harvest festival and it also marks the transition of the sun from Sagittarius to Capricon (Makara Rasi). Pongal also marks the beginning of Uttarayan – the daytime of Devas as per Hinduism and the next six months are considered highly auspicious. Six human months is considered the daytime of Devas. The main pujas and rituals on Pongal are dedicated to Lord Surya.
We will be holding an explore session lead by Dr. Vick where he will explain the significance of this event in greater depth before (weather permitting) we go fly our own kites on Queens' Green - if you don't have your own kite in Cambridge, fear not as we will be providing you with a number of these!.
Don't miss out on the first event of our final term as your ever-serving committee and come relish in our event with fun-filled Indian culture!
Diwali Dinner
Saturday 24 November 2012, 6.00pm—10.00pm
Wesley House, Jesus Lane
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The event took place on the last Saturday of Michaelmas term, 24th
November, a wonderful time to celebrate Diwali and the end of
term with everyone. The event started with a peaceful Pooja
conducted by the president, Meghavi Mashar, in the absence of Dr
Vick, and was then followed by the main highlight: the
meal. Plates were piled high with a mouth-watering array of
indian food including dhokla, palak paneer (spinach paneer),
chana sabzi (chick pea curry), rice, sweet boondi ladoo, naan
accompanied by the traditional drink lassi. There was even
opportunity to get seconds!
After enjoying the delicious meal, it was time for the entertainment of the evening to begin. After a few setbacks, including the sound system, everyone enjoyed enchanting performances by Bridge Se (Hindi/English fusion acapella group), a lovely traditional classical Indian dance performance by CUICAS, and the much anticipated annual committee play - a modern twist on the Ramayan story — written by our own learning officers, it was a relatable adaption with lots of laughs.
The night concluded with the crackle of sparklers and smiles all round. Wishing you a Happy Diwali and a Prosperous New Year from CUHCS committee!
If you have any opinions/comments on the event, please contact us! We'd love to hear from you!Religion and Culture: the effects on India's people
Tuesday 20 November 2012, 7.30pm—9.00pm
Erasmus Room, Queens' College, Cambridge, CB3 9ET
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Raas Leela
Saturday 27 October 2012, 7.00pm—10.30pm
Wesley House, Jesus Lane
Garba 2012 was a well-attended event, which was enjoyed by all! CUHCS was extremely grateful that Maya Deepak could join us along with a live band. As in previous years, Raas Leela turned out to be popular with those people that were present, and there was more than enough dandiya sticks to go round!
Soulsounds & Aarti
Wednesday 17 October 2012, 19:00-21:00
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Saturday 10 November 2012, 18:00-21:00
Boys Smith Room, St. John's College
After the events last year, Soulsounds is back by popular demand. Join us and participate in bhajans and music for a soulful, relaxing experience; the perfect way to unwind after a hectic Cambridge day.
Mastana Launch
Friday 12 October 2012
tbc, 19:00-22:00
Relive the highlights of Mastana 2012, the bigging Asian cultural show in Cambridgeshire! Here's your opportunity to buy DVDs and find out more about Mastana 2013.
Karmic Talkies
every Wednesday starting 10 October 2012, 19:00-20:00
Boys Smith Room, St John's College
Band Baaja Baraat: CUHCS Garden Party
Wed 20 June 2012
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Wednesday 15th June saw the occurance of the CUHCS Garden Party, Band Baaja Baraat, located in scenic and beautifully decorated Harvey Court, Caius College with a lovely playlist filled with Bollywood music. The event saw the attendance of not only students from a range of years but also community members who thoroughly enjoyed the event.
Whilst being a lovely opportunity to chill and wind down from exam term, the event was also packed with a variety of activities. These included a Guess the Name of the Gorilla stall, a Carrom board, massages by the CU Massage Society, Mehndi (henna) and a Pin the Bindi on the Dulhan (bride).
Whilst being jam packed with things to do, the event also featured some fantastic food from numerous locations in London including Vada Pav, Samosas, Ragda Petis, Khaman Dhokla, Puri and Aloo Sabsi (potato curry) alongside some traditional Indian Jalebi. We also had committee made Mango Lassi, Fruit Punch and Pani Puri. A feast which was definitely one of the highlights of the event.
Moreover, the garden party featured group activities such as the fiery Chilli Eating Competition, an exciting event for those watching and slightly painful for those involved! This was followed by a Girls v Boys Dance Off to a carefully chosen Bollywood playlist, a huge success and also comedic to those watching!
Band Baaja Baraat promised a great deal to its attendees but came away giving them even more! Enjoyed by all, it was a huge success and a relaxing and fun way to end the previous academic year!
If you have any opinions/comments on the event, please contact us! We'd love to hear from you!
Saraswati Pooja
28 April 2012
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The event featured a beautifully decorated altar and a lovely ceremony conducted by the CUHCS Chaplain, Dr Vick Vivata, who additionally explained the meaning and significance of praying to the goddess. This involved invoking Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, cleansing the statues of the Gods, followed by chanting the 100 names of Saraswati and then a final aarti, a specific prayer. Students also brought a plethora of books and stationary that they wanted blessed which was included in the ceremony. Unexpectedly the ceremony was also attended by a small snail, much to the amusement of all.
We had some lovely performances of Bhajans during the event, lead by both committee members as well as members of the audience, and a beautiful piece played on the Veena by Dr Vick's talented daughter.
Once the ceremony was over, students made personal prayers and then it was time to give out prasad, a food offering normally presented to God. This included committee cooked Sheero, along with a similar dish kindly made by Dr Vick's wife alongside a variety of fruits, all of which was thoroughly enjoyed.
All in all, a fantastic event, proving a great start for the new committee, and a lovely way to maintain religious roots during a time of stress and anxiety.
If you have any opinions/comments on the event, please contact us! We'd love to hear from you!