The Oxford Desi Ball, brought to life by a group of ethnic students who wished to celebrate the traditions they grew up with, feels both novel and visionary. Whilst many international students call Oxford home, the representation of South-Asian cultures remains low. The Desi Ball group noted that despite an increased intake of BAME (Black, Asian, and ethnic minority) students in 2023, there was not yet a platform to unite these students across Oxford’s thirty-nine different colleges. Their vision thus became to share, unite and celebrate the end of term in a grand, Indian-themed ball open to everyone studying at Oxford and beyond. Scrupulously designed on a grand scale, the doors of this ball welcome anyone interested in experiencing the diverse array of South Asian cultures. It will celebrate a variety of foods as well as venerable tasty cocktails! Furthermore, the ball will include different genres of music such as Bollywood and Punjabi, which is now recognised worldwide and enjoyed by millions at international music festivals like Coachella. The students who founded this ball are supported by many others in Oxford, having been very much inspired by their ideas. The resulting team has planned a spectacular event that will earn everyone’s gratitude.
The idea of this ball originated from the desire to build a community that resembles a home-away-from-home. Aryan Dixit, the President of the ball committee, explained in more detail when asked “What inspired you to give birth to this idea in full motion?” His response was heart-warming to say the least: “Growing up as the youngest in a big Indian community at home, I’d hear from all my older friends about the unforgettable memories they had made at their Universities in London and Southampton with big Desi groups. Coming to Oxford in the depths of a COVID-infested 2020, I longed for a home away from home, but it was so difficult to find my Desi community. That’s why it’s so important for anyone Desi at Oxford to realise that they’re not alone. The Oxford Desi Ball Society’s purpose is to bring together the whole South Asian community. That’s why we’ve made this society, to ensure that every year there is a home-away-from-home for all Desi students in Oxford.”
The South-Asian Dance Community has raised its profile over the years, ranging from different styles of dance such as Bharatnatyam to Bhangra. The former is a delicate dance style originating from South India; the latter is an energetic movement style with roots in Northern India. The Dance Committee was actually formed during one of these dance classes: inspiration and energy became a tangible basis for community, and thus the society was put into motion. Now, the team has grown to comprise of 6 Oxford Bhangra members, 4 from Oxford Tamil Society (TSocs) Gaana and 3 more from Oxford Bollywood Society (OxBolly), all of whom will be performing dances at the ball.
Furthermore, It was surprising to find out that a ball with unlimited food and drinks was also the cheapest Oxford ball! Speaking to Treasurer Cameron Deol he added “Budgeting was a challenge, however, the committee aimed to make it affordable to attract everyone. Given this may not be the only ball Oxford students attend, making it the cheapest ball was a great win for the team”. Acknowledging the BAME pay gap of 19.1% less than their white colleagues, the ticket prices were made affordable and attracted students of all backgrounds, reporting an amount of over 400 tickets sold thus far.
The Desi Ball aims to have a charity raffle, with prizes ranging from Sidney Sussex May Ball tickets to a fancy getaway in North Macedonia! Needless to say, the team has worked above and beyond to put together a memorable ball for their peers. All the charity raffle tickets will be donated to Karma Nirvana, a specialist charity established in 1993 committed to ending honour-based abuse in the United Kingdom. The charity is the first of its kind and was established by BAME UK citizen, Dr. Jasvinder Sanghera, who is also a survivor of abuse. The two charity sponsors said, “It was an easy decision when picking the charity given that honour-based victims have historically been largely associated within the South-Asian Community, as well as it being a charity for which we wanted to raise awareness”.
The ball has been diligently put together, featuring collaborators not only from Oxford societies but also from Cambridge societies, which has excited a broad array of students to join the event. The outreach programme for the ball has been inclusive and well thought-out, bringing together a diverse group of people from Oxbridge and beyond to both attend and organise the ball. Alongside this, Apprentice candidate (Series 18 2024) DJ Virdi will be hosting the after-party, whilst DJ Ish will be headlining the main event. The food variations are inclusive of all South-Asian cultures ranging from my personal favourite Pani Puri (a appetiser size crispy deep-fried hollow ball infused with chickpeas or potato, spices and tamarind or mint-based chutney) to Chole Bhature (an chickpea-based curry with deep-fried bread) as well as ending with India’s most loved dessert Gulab Jamun (fried dough balls dipped in sticky sugar syrup, a must try)!
The unique layout of the ball extends to a pre-welcome party hosted last Wednesday: “Mulaqat and Mehendi Night”, which translates to “Meeting and Henna Night”. This meant you could meet other students going to the event and enjoy a pre-warm welcome before the ball itself. This was held in collaboration with Oxford-Indian Society and attracted many henna lovers, as well as providing a great space to meet more like-minded people.
For the inaugural occasion, Oxford students will be attending this vibrant spirit of South-Asian unity and celebration on the 26th of April 2024. Breaking barriers of college and cultural divides, the night will be an inclusive gathering of all to come together and kick off the start of Trinity term. This unique event pays homage to the rich traditions of the South Asian community, promising a joyous celebration for all.
Id est quomodo historia factum est.