Other News Volume 2 Issue 2 Our Annual General Meeting will be held on 22nd May 2010. Food and light entertainment will be provided. Please confirm your attendance Newsletter with a committee member so that we can plan for the catering. March 2010 Most of the current committee will be either stepping down or their term of office expires. Therefore a new committee will be needed to continue the work of Sakhi Milap Hertfordshire. Anyone interested in joining the committee, Update please contact Gabi or Hansa for more information. Nomination forms are Since our Annual Review in June 2009, we have completed a survey to enclosed with this newsletter. Please ensure that you are a current member in identify the member and Indian community needs. The survey consultation order to join the committee. in November 2009 was supported by Gujarati Hindu Mens Association. It was Membership renewal for 2010/11 is due in May. Renewal forms will be done with the possibility in mind of having an accessible and amenable long- available at the AGM. term base for regular activities. The returned questionnaires have provided some good feedback and suggestions for activities, including: cultural activities Satsung Mandal recently had an event in celebration and recognition of the for all ages; celebrations and special services and practical workshops people present in the Indian community in Stevenage in the age group of 70+. (cookery, sewing, etc). A number of skills from those who responded have also They also recognised and celebrated of the contribution made by the Gujurati been identified which could be used in a new project. Thank you to everyone groups. Sakhi Milap was also presented with an award in recognition of the who took part in the survey. work we do. Unfortunately the daytrips and workshops organised since June 2009 had a Events poor response. We are hoping to make a success of our next event on 19th Our next event is an evening out at Masti in Wembley on 19th March 2010. March. Full details in the ‘events’ section on the back page. Masti is a bar, restaurant and club, serving authentic Indian dishes and offering a variety of entertainment, including live bands, DJs and sporting events. Take Part Project in Stevenage. Many events and workshops to help you Visit www.masti-wembley.com to find out more about this popular London become more involved in your community are taking place. Workshops include venue. We hope you can join us for a great evening out. Confidence Building and English for speakers of other languages, whilst there Please contact Gabi, Kalpana or Hansa to book your tickets. Tickets cost £15, are also visits and talks also planned, which include a visit to the Houses of which includes entrance and food. Transport will be provided with pick-up at Parliament. For information about this project please contact: 7.30 pm from St.Nicholas Community Centre, Canterbury Way. Anne-Raphaelle Durix the Take Part Project Worker on 01438 725400. Yoga. Classes will begin at St. Nicholas Community Centre after New website. We are currently constructing a website: Easter . Anyone interested in joining should contact Vina Soneji www.sakhimilap-stevenage.org.uk. We aim to keep it updated with lots of for more details. useful information. Please keep checking our progress. If you have anything that you would like to see or put on there, please let us know. Committee contacts Gabi - 07894 274625; Kalpana - 01438 726816; Hansa - 07833 Finally, we have been approached by Hindu Forum Britain (HFB) to become 449504. email: [email protected] members. Taken from HFB website: “The Hindu Forum of Britain (HFB) is Anyone wishing to contribute to the next newsletter, please contact us. the largest representative body for British Hindus with over 420 member organisations from different regions around the country. HFB’s activities are broadly divided into three areas: public affairs and community consultation; Sakhi Milap Hertfordshire capacity building and project development; and interfaith co-operation and Stevenage Wellbeing Centre relations to help build a cohesive and inclusive Britain.” More information can 13 Town Square, Stevenage be found at www.hfb.org.uk. We welcome any comments regarding this. Herts. SG1 1BP Sakhi Milap Hertfordshire Indian Holidays We wanted to take the opportunity in this newsletter to talk about the holidays that are taking place over the next month. Festivals in India are not about religion, but events that are a celebration of life and bringing people together. Bright colours, illuminated houses, sweets and traditional dresses and dances and unwavering enthusiasm are the characteristics of all the festival holidays in India. Cuisine, dresses and ornaments, especially of the Indian women, with the profusion of various colours, cultural and traditional performances and music, chariot and car procession of the deities and interesting folklores give the Indian festivals their universal appeal of brotherhood. Holi Navratri Holi is a festival of colours. It is meant to welcome the spring and win the 'Navratri' means 'nine nights'. Navratri is a very important and popular festival blessings of Gods for good harvests and fertility of the land. There are many of India. It comes twice on a year, once around interesting legends attached to Holi, the most popular being that of Prince March-April and the second time, around September- Prahlad, who was a devout follower of Lord Vishnu. It is the second most October. The nine days and nights of Navratri are important festival of India after Diwali. Holi in India is a festival of fun and frolic entirely devoted to Mother Goddess. It is one of the and has been associated with the immortal love of Krishna and Radha. The most celebrated festivals of Hindu calendar, it holds exuberance and the festivity of the season are remarkable. special significance for Gujuratis and Bengalis and one can see it in the zeal and fervour of the people The festival marks the arrival of spring season, with which they indulge in the festive activities of the therefore, brings in warmth into the air. It is not season. Dandiya and Garba Rass are the highlights just the season, which is changing, but also the of the festival in Gujarat, while farmers sow seeds mood of the people. The festival signifies the spirit and thank the Goddess for her blessings and pray for of brotherhood and unity. It is often said that on better yield. In older times, Navratri was associated the event of this festival, even enemies forget their with the fertility of Mother Earth who feed us as her differences and embrace, greeting each other. children. Holi festival is celebrated by the people of all caste, class or creed, without any distinction. It The first three days of Navratri are dedicated to Goddess Durga (Warrior treats everyone equally, herein all the people Goddess) dressed in red and mounted on a lion. Her various incarnations - drenched in different colours, lose their identity to become one. Kumari, Parvati and Kali - are worshipped during these days. They represent the three different classes of womanhood that include the child, the young girl According to the traditions of Holi, the people and the mature woman. Next three days are dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi gather around on a day before the festival as we (Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity), dressed in gold and mounted on an eagle know it, is the evening of bonfires. People light up and finally, last three are dedicated to Goddess Saraswati (Goddess Of bonfires of dead leaves, twigs and wooden sticks, Knowledge), dressed in milky white and mounted on a pure white swan. dance and sing around it to welcome the spring Sweetmeats are prepared for the celebrations. Children and adults dress up in season, commemorate the saving of Prahlad and new bright-coloured dresses for the night performances. burning of his wicked aunt Holika. Navratri is one of the important Hindu festivals of India, commemorated with The ashes of the Holi fire are believed to have fun, fervour and enthusiasm. People across the country celebrate the festival some medicinal properties. Next morning, it is by worshipping Goddess Durga, the Deity of Power. The air is filled with 'Dhuledi' or the main festival of colours, when festivity all through the nine days of the festival. People exchange greetings, adults and children smear coloured powder on each other and splash water sweets, prepare lip smacking recipes for Navratri fast and indulge themselves jets known as 'pichkaris'. Mouthwatering sweets and delicacies also form an in the worship of the Goddess. Navratri 2010 is March 16 to March 24 is a important part of the festival. Holi will be celebrated on March 1, 2010 prelude to Ram’s birthday celebration. Nine day Durga Puja was done by Ram in order to achieve victory over Ravan. Information taken from: www.festivals.iloveindia.com.