Mock Sangeet: U of A Bollywood Club and MacEwan South Asia’s Event Unified Students Across Two Campuses
MacEwan University and University of Alberta student groups opened the doors to Desi music and cultural celebration for both South Asian guests and newcomers.
A dance circle in the Mock Sangeet Photo credit: Dana Graciela Inzon
Many students from both the University of Alberta (U of A) and MacEwan University had been looking forward to attending the Mock Sangeet, held at Feb 13, which is organized by student groups.
The intervarsity student groups, U of A Bollywood and MacEwan South Asia (MacSA), expected the guests to join the party in their best dress, and they did not disappoint.
“If you notice inside, everyone has their own hints of traditional wear to it,” Aishi Gupta, U of A Bollywood’s president, said. Attendees’ outfits ranged from South Asian traditional – such as lehenga choli – to fusion outfits.
As the DJ kicked off his set at 9 p.m., the event aimed to celebrate South Asian cultures through music and dance.
The event featured a pre-wedding celebration called Sangeet, which in Indian culture consisted of high-energy Bollywood music, group choreography, aromatic South Asian cuisine, and opulent outfits.
“It’s a night full of love, dancing, getting to know each other,” Aishi Gupta, the president of U of A Bollywood Club, said. “People perform for the bride and the groom, showing their love and affection.”
Despite the romantic aspect of the celebration, U of A and MacEwan hosted the event without a bride or groom. “The mock comes in where, obviously, we don’t have [a bride and a groom],” Gupta said, “Most of us have missed our relatives’ weddings at home, so this is just for everyone to feel at home and also just do something different than a bar night.”
Held at the Westin Hotel ballroom, the event’s higher budget and collaboration resulted in an upscale experience. “The event is just of a higher calibre than we kind of thought at the start,” said Shahzaib Ahmad, the vice president of MacSA.
Ahmad reported that there were about 200 attendees at the event. “So the place is bigger, the place is nicer, and the food’s better,” he said.
U of A Bollywood and MacSA’s collaborative efforts drew a diverse audience, including individuals from various backgrounds. The ultimate goal was to appreciate the culture and learn more about it. “I think we just want to share our culture, and we want to make it a place for everyone to be at,” Gupta added.
Both clubs are eager to host more events like this. Ahmad said that MacSA is “trying to expand their horizons,” with Mock Sangeet as their first step towards their goal.
Meanwhile, U of A Bollywood’s Gupta said that students group should “move past our club nights and have more events like this where we can bring more people together.”
