Desi Beats

While everyone is on a lookout for the perfect place for parties,many foreign students are sure that they will attend clubs and discs where a foreign DJ plays. “Foreign DJs understand our taste of music,” says Ahmed Geabl,from Yemen and a student of accountancy.

While there’s a craze among students going to discotheques and partying the whole night,there are others who plan on a private party. Anushree Rana,from Nepal and a student of MBA explains,”Here in Pune December 31 is celebrated on a grand scale. I’ll be working that day but some of my friends are planning to join in for a personal party. I stay in Kathmandu and we do have a new year celebration in the main city but it’s no comparison to the celebration here.”

Students from different nationalities meet on this day and the atmosphere turns out to be very harmonious. “Eversince I came to India I’ve been celebrating two new years,the Muslim new year and December 31” says Mustafa Naley,from Somalia and a multi media student in Arena India. “Different cultures integrate here and that is the whole beauty of celebration,” he smiles.

Despite the alluring parties and celebrations happening in Pune,few foreign students also prefer their own culture. “Back home in China there is no practice of celebrating the night of December 31,so somehow this custom never picked up with me,though I’ve been in India for almost three years now,” says Mao Yojoan,a student of Symbiosis International University,”I do believe in the Chinese New Year,which falls in February and I celebrate it with a group of friends,” she adds.

“December 31 is not celebrated in Afghanistan though some of my Afghani friends do celebrate the Muslim New Year in a very quiet manner. It is very contrary to the New year celebration of December 31,” explains Kambiz Rasi,a student in Pune,from Afghanistan.

Though there might be few who are not finding the celebration apt enough. “The celebration back home is on a much larger scale. When I saw Diwali celebration this year,I was expecting something grand for the holiday season too,but turns out Diwali is much grand,” says Oliver Matthews,from Kuwait and a research student in India,“But of course it’s new year and I’ll be celebrating an Indian party Some party hubs in Pune seem to be quite cool and I’ll be going to one of these,” he adds.