KCL Hindu Society

Hindu Society Mentorship Scheme🙏🏼

We are excited to announce this programme where current university students will be paired up with Y12 students as their mentors over this summer! 📖

In collaboration with this is a chance for you to perform an act of Sewa 🤍

You will be able to provide a student with support, guidance and advice to help them with their education and career aspirations! You will be able to support them virtually on things like personal statements, choosing universities, revision techniques and so much more! Having been in their shoes, you can help them tackle the pressures which come with sixth form and A-Levels. 📚

Use the link in our bio to sign up now for this amazing opportunity that you can put on the CV too!

We look forward to seeing beautiful guru-shishya bonds being formed through this initiative which will become a bridge between Hindu students at schools and university 🙏🏼

Over the past few years, there has been a noticeable surge in discussions and debates surrounding the topic of 'Challenging Academic Hinduphobia'. The implications of Academic Hinduphobia are far-reaching, especially for the Hindu student community in the United Kingdom.

Shri Rajiv Malhotra is an author, researcher, and professor, who has done immense work in the field of addressing and countering Hinduphobia in academic spaces. We are pleased to announce that NHSF (UK) will be hosting him for a talk, and book launch, at King's College London on the 9th of June 2023.

🗓️ Friday, 9th June 2023
⏰ 6-8PM
📍Bush House Lecture Theatre 1 S(1.01), King's College London, 30 Aldwych, London WC2B 4BG

Register using the link in our bio 🔗

(Note: This is a student-only event)

Holi ‘23 photos out now!!! 🌈

A huge thank you to for capturing these memories:)

Access the link in our bio for more photos.

Holi ‘23 photos out now!!! 🌈

A huge thank you to for capturing these moments:)

Access the link in our bio for more photos.

Om Shri Sitaye Namah 🙏🏽

Sita Navami, also known as Sita Jayanti, marks the birth anniversary of Goddess Sita, the consort of Lord Rama. It is celebrated on the Shukla Paksha (Waxing Moon), Navami Tithi (9th day) in the lunar month of Vaishaka as per the Hindu calendar.

There are many legends associated with the story of Maa Sita’s birth. One derives from the Tamil version of Valmiki’s Ramayan which portrays Sita Devi as being found in the lap of Earth, hidden in the ploughed furrow of a field. Because of this story, Goddess Sita is also referred to as the daughter of Goddess Earth, or ‘Bhumi Devi’, and is said to have been found and adopted by the King of Mithila, King Janaka, and Sunaina, his wife.

As per Hindu mythology, King Janaka organised a Swayamvar for Goddess Sita’s marriage; a type of marriage whereby a husband for Sita was chosen from a group of suitors. King Janaka had set one condition; that whoever breaks the Bow (Dhanush) of Lord Shiva will be the one to marry Goddess Sita. After attempts were made by several Kings who had all failed to break the bow, Lord Rama finally emerged as the true suitor for Sita upon being the first man to succeed.

Sita is revered for her loyalty, devotion and love towards her husband, Lord Rama. She is regarded as the epitome of femininity and is considered as the ideal wife and mother. When Lord Rama was asked to go on an exile for 14 years to the forest, Sita Maa refused to stay back at the palace of Ayodhya despite being told to do so by her husband, and instead insisted she would accompany him wherever he went, thus portraying her immense sense of duty towards Lord Rama.

Devotees of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita observe fasts on this day and offer prayers to seek their blessings. Temples dedicated to Lord Rama and Sita are decorated beautifully, and special puja and bhajan programs are organized. In some parts of North India, married women observe the Sita Navami Vrat (fast) for the well-being of their husband, family, and for happy and prosperous marriage.

Written by Riya Pindoria, Sanskaar Subcommittee.

We wish everyone a Shubh Sita Navami 🧡

இனிய புத்தாண்டு நல்வாழ்த்துகள்
Iṉiya puttāṇṭu nalvāḻttukaḷ! 🙏🏽

വിഷു ആശംസകൾ
Vishu aashamsakal🌸

Tamil new year, also known as Puthandu, marks new beginnings, prosperity and hope for the year ahead.

A simple practice I remember sharing with my grandmother was cleaning the vaasal (entrance) of the house and drawing the kolam (rangoli) at dawn. An age old tradition practised daily in Tamil households to welcome prosperity and goodness into our homes. As the first rays of light broke through the sky and filled the streets of homes, offices and shops upon the kolam, it represented the arrival of light, dispelling darkness.

Tamasomā jyotir gamaya

This shloka literally means “From Darkness, lead me to light”, an auspicious wish that is prayed towards for the upcoming year, manifested by the drawing of the kolam.

Tamil New year falls on the first day of the chithrai masam (month) and is believed to signify the birth of the universe, to start a new and a time of reflection. These festivals have always fallen close to the end of term or exam period, a time where we are filled with feelings of anticipation, scared of change. It reminds us to embrace these changes that are sure to come and to look forward to new beginnings with optimism and courage.

What puthandu is for Tamilians, Vishu is for Malayalees. The preparation for it begins the day before, with the eldest in the house preparing a special display called "Vishukkani,". A tali is made up of various items like flowers, fruits, grains, gold coins, and a mirror. On the morning of Vishu, people view it first thing in the morning. It is believed that the first thing one sees on this day will set the tone for the rest of the year.

Being a Tamil/Malayali, both these festivals are deeply rooted in my traditions having played a significant role in shaping my understanding of hinduism and are a reminder of the deep heritage that we inherit.

KCL Hindu society wishes everyone a Puthandu nalvalttukal and Vishu aashamsakal!🌸🌺🌼

Committee 2023-24 Positions still open 🚨

We still have some positions on our committee for next year open:

General Secretary
Head of Marketing
Social Media Manager
Sanskaar Project Officer

Please fill in the Google Form linked in our bio by Wednesday 19th April 2023 11:59pm. Role Descriptions can also be found in the form. 📑

Feel free to DM about any queries. We look forward to reading your applications📝

All the best 🙏🏼

Maharaja Ball photos are out now!!! 🥳✨

A huge thank you to for the pictures of our event! 📸

You can access the photos via the link in our bio! 💙

What is a Hindu temple? 🤔

Why are they built a certain way? 🛕

What do Hindu temples represent? ✨

Why do they obtain such a high level of significance in Hindu society? 🙏🏽

If you have ever wondered about any of these questions before, want to gain an insight into Hindu temples, or are simply interested in expanding your knowledge of this topic then be sure to check this post out, by our lovely Subcommittee Sanskaar Officer, Riya Pindoria! 💙

kausalyāsuprajā rāma pūrvā sandhyā pravartate ।
uttiṣṭha naraśārdūla karttavyaṃ daivamāhnikam ॥

"Magnificent son of Kausalya, tiger amongst men, awaken! The eastern aurora is emerging, the time has come to perform your duty to the gods!" - 1.23.2, Bālakāṇḍa, Vālmīki Rāmāyana

There are few figures, in our plethora of literature, that have been so pervasive in their influence, as to have radically changed not just our thinking on the matters of spirituality, bhakti, divinity, but also our perception of one another, and society at large. Shri Rama's name is not just uttered by the Bhakta or the Pandita, but also by the revolutionary, the thinker, and the leader of the masses. From Ramanujacharya, Tulsidasa, Swami Vivekananda, Gandhiji, to Alluri Sita Rama Raju, the impact of 'Ram ke naam' (Rama's name) has radically shaped the world as we know it today.

It is not the mere uttering of his name that has brought forth this, but rather the qualities ingrained within this persona of Rama. The qualities of doing one's duty, of compassion, of love, of respect, of sacrifice, and of standing firm in one's battle against Adharma. One quality, that Shri Rama also represents is balance and stability, or as the poet Kavi Bhushan put it, "for every Ravana, there is a Shri Rama".

"The Moon might lose its splendour, snow might abandon the Himavat mountain, the ocean might overstep its shores, but I (Shri Rama) shall not forsake the promise made to my father." - 2.112.18, Vālmīki Rāmāyana

There is a lot we, as Hindu students, can learn from such a figure in our Itihasa, to stay committed to our work, to perform actions of Sewa, to reduce our ego, to be compassionate towards those around us, to stand up for ourselves/our community, and to devote ourselves to the gods, whether it be through worship of seeing them as our idols that we seek to become.

viklabo vīryahīno yasya daivamanu vartate ।
vīrāssambhā vitātmāno na daivaṃ paryupāsate॥

"Those who are timid and cowardly depend alone on destiny. The valiant ones with self-respect do not care for it." 2.23.16, Vālmīki Rāmāyana

सियावर रामचंद्र की जय!
जय जय श्री राम!

Bollywood Dance Class 💃

Join us to learn an energetic choreography on the song “Oo Antava” taught by and *tasakore 🔥

🗓 Wednesday 29th March 2023
📍Bush House Studio, Strand Campus
⏰ 6:30-8:30PM

Wear anything comfy. Can’t wait to see you all there! 🤩