To create awareness about all our societies, we're bringing you this regular student group Spotlight, where we will introduce all the societies you may want to join!
Spotlight of the week – DEGS Society
Staffordshire University prides itself in having a diverse range of students from many different races and ethnicities studying with us, and a thriving international student community. DEGS (Desi Events and Games Society) is group of primarily South Asian students hailing from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal, all with a passion for social gatherings and Desi culture!
DEGS is a new student community currently led by Danial Varghese as president. The aim of the DEGS is to make the community university experience great by celebrating cultural events and festivals on the university campus involving traditional values. Although the society was primarily created for South Asian students, it is open to all students who want to experience South Asian culture or just make new friends. So, it does not matter where you come from; you are always welcome to join DEGS!
Events and Activities
DEGS organises weekly meetups at the Flaxman building every Friday from 7 pm to 9 pm. At these meetups, members of the society watch movies or YouTube, play games and hang out.
DEGS organised a Desi Disco event at Verve on 29th September, which was very successful and had a good number of students attend. Due to its popularity the society is organising another Desi Disco event on 24th November at LRV.
DEGS are also planning to organise indoor cricket and futsal matches early next year. But it’s not just cricket and futsal. Do you want to see some Desi action? They are also planning to organise Kabbadi matches at the sports centre in December. Kabaddi is a Desi Sport most popular in Asia and widely gaining popularity across the world. Don’t know how to play? The sport has simple rules, and they will be happy to teach you to play and teach you the rules.
Can’t hold the excitement? Watch this YouTube Video explaining the rules and get the idea how it looks!
We also have a DEGS Society for the London Campus. We talked to Sanjay who is a current manager of DEGS SUL.
Sanjay Says,
"Celebrating the rich cultural legacy that unites us becomes more and more crucial as we work through the fabric of our diverse society. We have worked hard to promote inclusivity and establish a place where traditions are valued and honored in the center of our university.
Upon reflection of our most recent Navaratri celebration, our community is dedicated to uniting individuals through festive customs. The vibrant movements of garba?which is a traditional Indian dance. Our custom dandiyas, which we added as a personal touch to the celebrations, are what made this occasion memorable. These wooden sticks, which are essential to the garba dance, evolved from simple props into unique representations of our culture.
Looking ahead, we are preparing for Diwali, the festival of lights, which promises to be another amazing occasion. We have bigger plans for this event than meets the eye. We are organising a competition for rangoli patterns, where members of our community can display their artistic abilities by creating elaborate designs pens and paper The goal is to collaborate to create a work of art that represents our diversity's unifying power rather than merely competing. There will be traditional foods that are associated with the event, and members can enjoy them in this casual gathering. With flavours ranging from rich and fragrant jalebis to delicious ladoos, our goal is to create a space where everyone can enjoy the culinary treats that make Diwali unique.
Our society is dedicated to promoting a sense of community year-round, not just during festivals. There will soon be game and movie nights, providing opportunities for fun and relaxation. These gatherings will provide an environment for participants to relax, socialise, and laugh together across ethnic and religious divides.
Our society is unique in that we celebrate all Desi festivals without regard to religious prohibitions. We think that respect for culture should not be limited, and by embracing the rich diversity of Desi customs, we wish to foster fellowship and understanding within our community."
Why join the DEGS?
Society was created with the aim that no one should be left or feel alone! Joining DEGS can make you feel like you are part of a family and will develop your sense of belonging.
South Asia has diverse cultures. It is interesting to explore the diverse range of regional cultures in its members, and you will still feel like a family.
Being a member, you will also get discounts on the events organised by DEGS, such as for the upcoming Desi Disco, the members will get £1.50 discount, which means the members will get a 30% discount on their tickets costing them only £3.50 from £5!
How to join DEGS?
Joining the DEGS is very easy and free of cost. Although it’s free to join, you still have to go through the registration process. Follow these easy steps.
Click here to join the DEGS SUL and follow the same process.
For more information, you can reach out to them via email at degs@staffs.ac.uk. You can also send them a quick message on their Instagram at @Staffs_degs