On 9 December, students, colleagues and friends joined together for the World in Westminster Café: Yalda Night Celebrations. The gathering brought people together to celebrate the Iranian festival and share delicious food, poetry and fun festivities.
Yalda Night is an Iranian festival that celebrates the winter solstice and commemorates the last night of autumn. The end of the season brings the rebirth of the sun and the triumph of the light over darkness, bringing friends and family together to share food, poems and joy.
The event was hosted at the University of Westminster’s Portland Hall and was attended by many from across the Westminster community. Maryam Sadat Seyed Salehi, student and Student Union community organiser, opened the event and spoke about the history of Yalda Night and the ways it is celebrated by Iranians all over the world.
This was followed by a dance performance, a bespoke storytelling and a musical concert with percussion instruments – all showcasing the rich artistic talents of the Iranian community. Guests could enjoy delicious Iranian cuisine and tea afterwards.
The aim of the World in Westminster Café Celebrations series is to bring together home and international students from very different backgrounds, educate each other and create a space for belonging. It is about making Westminster feel like home.
About the event Zahrah Surooprajally, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Event Manager, said: “It is a such a privilege to be able to celebrate these festivals as part of these communities. Such a warm and inviting space and an honour to be part of. Huge thanks to Maryam for putting it all together!”
Professor Dibyesh Anand, Deputy Vice–Chancellor for Global Engagement and Employability, added: “We want every member of our diverse and global Westminster community to have a sense of belonging and it was a pleasure to support World in Westminster Cafe: Celebrating Yalda. Since the actual festival marking the longest night of the year falls outside the teaching semester, we organised it in advance. Shab-e-Yalda to everyone from our University of Westminster."
Find out more about upcoming EDI events that will celebrate and advance the values of diversity and inclusion at University of Westminster.
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