HYUK PIcture

'Get Connected' Preston 2002

 

Interesting Facts
Photos
Messages of Support
Press Release

 

Get Connected took place at the prestigious Guild Hall in Preston on Saturday 13th July 2002 in order to celebrate the Hindu faith by incorporating a unique combination of spirituality, culture and lifestyle all under one roof.

Interesting Facts

- 3,500 youth, volunteers, dignitaries and families descended on the Guild Hall to attend the event.
- The event was specifically developed for the Northern region.
- It was the first of three groundbreaking national events.
- It formed part of the 'Spirit of Friendship Festival and Golden Jubilee celebrations.
- It began with a procession through the city centre with the distinct beat of the 'Dhol'. Dignitaries such as Mark Hendrick MP and the Mayor of Preston, Jonathan Saksena later joined the procession.
- The Guild Hall was separated into unique ‘Zones’:
Careers Zone: major local and national employers, including civil service organisations such as the Army, Navy and Police Force had stalls for recruiting Asian candidates.
Kids Zone: Children of all ages flocked to the Kids Zone to take part in supervised games and colouring competitions while watching animated Hindu epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Spirituality Zone: this played host to a series of speakers on popular topics such as the origin of the Vedas, meditation and yoga, power napping and the power of mantra recitation.
Food Zone: served up a range of traditional culinary delights.
- The main hall formed the Culture Zone where a mock Hindu marriage ceremony took place, young ladies illustrated how to correctly sport a sari, and three-dimensional 'Vaastu' models were demonstrated.
- The evening cultural show featuring comedy acts, dramatisations, acapela singers and dance acts by youth groups and societies from Manchester, Preston, Bolton, Liverpool Glasgow, Oldham, Ashton - Under- Lynne, Blackburn, Warrington and Wigan.
- The entire event was organised within 2 months.
- Over 50 people participated in the planning and organising of the event.

 

Photos

Here are some photos from Get Connected Preston. Click on the thumbnail to get a larger version.

 

Messages of Support

 

This event provides young British Hindus with an important opportunity to explore their culture and their faith. It will provide a useful forum for participants to address the key issues facing young Hindus in Britain today... events like yours play an important role in helping us to appreciate and celebrate this diversity and I wish you every success.

Rt. Hon. Tony Blair MP,
The Prime Minister

 

It is an honour to have the first Hindu Youth Festival of the North in our city. The event provides an opportunity for people of all backgrounds and religions to come together and celebrate Hinduism.

Mark Hendrick,
Mayor of Preston

 

Press Release