Last Friday, Cambridge witnessed a full fusion of fun, as the Cambridge University Hindu Cultural Society hosted the annual Mastana at the Guildhall. The 20th anniversary of the annual event did not disappoint; in fact, quite possibly, this Mastana could have been the best yet! The show hosted a delightful mix of fashion, food, drink, music and theatrical entertainment – it was certainly a show you did not want to miss. The entertainment of the evening was in abundance and energised the guests into full swing. The theme put a spin on traditional Asian and Hindu culture; this year the society aimed to create a fusion of fun between both British and Asian culture. The synthesis of both worlds into one cleverly added a twist on this year’s Mastana festival; traditional Hindu culture was ignited with new and current trends. The festival commemorated the cultural diversity from all around the world – while also celebrating the assortment of culture present at Cambridge.

One of the highlights of the evening was the showing of an Indian play with a Western-filled twist – plus the celebration of traditional Asian and Indian fashion. The fashion was a mixture of colourful prints and creative designs, in celebration of Hindu Soc’s cultural heritage. The amount of effort that went into creating the designs was shown, as the catwalk glistened with all the colours of the rainbow, from ruby red to emerald green – the fashion on show was just as exciting to watch as that from CUCFS several weeks ago. Bollywood music was mixed with Western beats for a musical melange of global proportions.

The Mastana President, Sara Sathyanandha, commented on the evening: “The atmosphere on Friday was buzzing; there was cheering throughout the performances and laughing throughout the play. It was an extremely enjoyable evening of entertainment”. The festival was ‘buzzing’ – louder and livelier than any other event in Cambridge this term.

The festival itself lasted for three hours – not only was it value for money, but also the money raised will go to charity. The charity which Mastana are supporting this year is the Bhagini Nivedita Pratishthan Pune, founded in 1979. It focuses on both women and children in some of India’s peripheral rural villages. The charity not only focuses on improving female education, employment opportunities and children’s education, but is also a charity which has a personal connection. Aalok Patwardhan is the president of the Hindu Cultural Society; personally, this charity means a great deal of importance, having been founded by his great-grandmother in India. The charity aims for the ‘upliftment of women and children’ and has already been overwhelmingly successful, training 2,600 women in computer training, and offering science programmes to 4,700 school children of primary-school age. It also provides support for hearing impaired children and as of today and continues to strive towards better welfare for both women and children alike. The value of female employment to India’s future is vital – not only has it been proven that female employment and equality can improve social wellbeing but also creates a richer and more prosperous nation.

Not only is Mastana about celebrating the diversity of culture – but the night was also about raising awareness for a cause vital for the future of India. The festival provided an atmosphere of exhilaration and, with a range of different activities on offer, the vibe of the event was certainly energetic; at no point in the evening did the energy of the dancers, guests and singers slow down. Bollywood music combined with plentiful food and drink (not to mention the Paneer canapes) and fun-filled entertainment, the atmosphere of the Guildhall was truly pulsating – what more could you want from a cultural festival? Cambridge is truly a hub for global culture, and the festival of Mastana put life back into Cambridge’s diversity.