News

Manchester Met celebrates Diwali in style with Roshni cultural extravaganza

0 663

Featured image: Maria Loray


The Union’s International Student Group welcomed 150 attendees to its ‘Roshni’ cultural extravaganza to celebrate Diwali – the ‘Festival of Lights’.

Featuring a DJ, student performers, food, photo booths and henna all under one roof, the event was presented by Manchester Metropolitan University’s International student group in collaboration with The Indian Way society.

This festival is one of the most popular festivals in India, celebrated every year by bursting firecrackers, lighting lamps or ‘diyas’.

Performing at the event was DJ Sanj aka Desifusion, a popular name in Manchester known for his Indian and Punjabi fusion mixes, as well as 14 student performers who presented their unique talents ranging from dancing to poetry writing.

Photography: Maria Loray

The event was also featured on BBC Radio Manchester’s ‘Dead Good Show’ hosted by RJ Remmel Dawood.

International Project Coordinator, Maria Loray, and International event organisers, Leila Aiko and Supraja R. Srinivasan planned the event as part of the wider ‘Cultural Connections’ programme which aims to promote cultural awareness among students at Manchester Met.

Paying tribute to the efforts of the organisers, Maria said: “There were many factors to consider while planning this event as it was about a culture, but it also was to promote awareness about it. So, getting the details right was an absolute necessity for the organisers. This is where the collaboration with ‘The Indian way’ society felt very natural and important.”

Photography: Maria Loray

The event was a spectacular display of the Indian culture and brought people together from different countries, cultures and academic backgrounds to socialise and “create new friendships and make unforgettable memories”.

Asked what else was next on the agenda for the social programme, Maria said: “As the students danced carefree, the organisers were delighted and reassured that students went home culturally enriched with big smiles and one request: to have more of these events.”

You can join the MMU International Student Group on Facebook to find out about the latest events.

About the author / 

William Boyes

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More News Stories:

  • Bloodstock 2026: Saturday review – Breaking the circle pit rule

    Featured image: Abbi Draper After an electrifying start to the weekend, with temperatures slowly climbing, many lather themselves in suncream, shed their band shirts and rise from their tents to trek towards the arena. Saturday has big things incoming for the humans of Bloodstock 2026. Some pace themselves for the day and hide from the early…

  • Bloodstock 2026: Friday review – Lamb of God reminds us ‘This is an Invitation’

    Featured image: Abbi Draper After a memorable Thursday opener, Bloodstock 2026 opens its gates once again onto the Hallowed Grounds of Catton Park, kicking off day two of its 25th-anniversary celebration of metal. As the sun rises on Catton Park, festivalgoers emerge from their tents to prepare for another day of mayhem. The morning brings…

  • Bloodstock 2026: Thursday review – Headbanging, legendary sets and dinosaurs

    Featured image: Steve Dempsey Bloodstock returned to Derby for its 25th anniversary this year, welcoming thousands of metal fans for an extended four-day celebration of the festival legacy and its place in the metal community. With a packed bill spanning a broad range of metal sub-genres, this is what Thursday had to offer. As the…

  • Truck Festival 2026: Sunday review – A fitting finale to an unforgettable weekend

    Featured image and gallery: Lucy Elson-Whittaker Sunday may signal the final day of Truck Festival 2026, but there’s still plenty to celebrate before the gates close for another year. From rising indie stars Keyside to the long-awaited return of Rizzle Kicks, festival favourites Circa Waves and headliners The Wombats, these are the performances that define…