India

How would you describe 1.3 billion people who speak different languages, celebrate different festivals, follow different religions, like different food, and wear different clothes, but in spite of all the diversity there is an incomprehensible sense of oneness and love for the mother land? India. Period. The Indian community at UMaine is like a small family on campus for us. Even though we all love being in the US and explore the new culture, it is always comforting to fall back to the old and the familiar. We are very grateful for the welcoming community that we have discovered at the University and in Orono. If you ever want to try some spicy Indian food, some wacky attires, or just dance on a Bollywood song, we are the folks to contact! 

Meet Our Students

Raj is doing his MS in Teaching from the RiSE department at University of Maine. He came from the hustle and bustle of Delhi, and really enjoys being close to nature in Maine. He wants to travel around the world and teach physics in high need countries.
Raj is doing his MS in Teaching from the RiSE department at University of Maine. He came from the hustle and bustle of Delhi, and really enjoys being close to nature in Maine. He wants to travel around the world and teach physics in high need countries.

Finding Community and Celebrating Culture at UMaine

All photos were taken before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Photos submitted by Ayesha Maliwal and Anupam Raj
Komala is a third year PhD graduate student in the Department of Physics and Astronomy.
Komala is a third year PhD graduate student in the Department of Physics and Astronomy.
Vijayanta Jain is doing his Ph.D. at the School of Computing and Information Science. By day he does research and by night he dawns a cape and saves the world. He also likes to cook.
Vijayanta Jain is doing his Ph.D. at the School of Computing and Information Science. By day he does research and by night he dawns a cape and saves the world. He also likes to cook.

Masala Dosa

Masala Dosa is a traditional south Indian breakfast, which originates from Karnataka, India. It is made from rice, lentils, and fenugreek seeds. Dosa is served with peanut chutney, potato and sambar. There are a wide variety of Dosa such as Mysore Masala Dosa, Onion Dosa, Paper Dosa,  Set Dosa etc.The one we presented is Mysore Masala Dosa.This is crisp, aromatic and has spiced seasoned potato stuffed inside.  

Masala Dosa as a batterMasala Dosa cooking

Masala DosaMasala Dosa served

– Komala

[VIDEO COMING SOON]
Bollywood Dance Workshop in Fall 2020 was a Maine Masque event hosted by Pooja Rawat. Maine Masque is a student organization for Theatre. Pooja loves dancing, but her favorite hobby is dancing to some desi Bollywood tunes! She wanted to host an event where her friends and other students could learn a Bollywood Dance routine and show off their _ desi thumkas_. This event was a thrill to participate in and we hope to see more culturally diverse events, especially the ones that involve dancing, in the future. 

Pooja believes that no matter how different and diverse people are, you can bring them together by dancing together.

Pooja Rawat is a 4th-year Theatre major from Navi Mumbai, India. Her interests are in acting and filmmaking. Apart from watching and scrutinizing films, Pooja enjoys watching Bollywood films, be it in the comfort of her home in India or in the solace of her friends in Orono- who are always keen on learning about Indian culture. It is Pooja's privilege and honor to be able to represent her motherland through dancing, food, films, and her mother-tongue at the University of Maine. The University of Maine and the Office of Internation Programs have given Pooja a community so marvelously supportive, for which she is wholeheartedly grateful.
Pooja Rawat is a 4th-year Theatre major from Navi Mumbai, India. Her interests are in acting and filmmaking. Apart from watching and scrutinizing films, Pooja enjoys watching Bollywood films, be it in the comfort of her home in India or in the solace of her friends in Orono- who are always keen on learning about Indian culture. It is Pooja's privilege and honor to be able to represent her motherland through dancing, food, films, and her mother-tongue at the University of Maine. The University of Maine and the Office of Internation Programs have given Pooja a community so marvelously supportive, for which she is wholeheartedly grateful.

This is a local song which describes the atmosphere of a town named Guntur in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. It mentions that the town is fun and that we have a lot of food in the town. This is my hometown and I’m happy that I get the chance to show some of it to everyone. 

– Sai

Amay is a second-year Graduate student, pursuing his Masters's in Wildlife Conservation at the University of Maine.
Amay is a second-year Graduate student, pursuing his Masters's in Wildlife Conservation at the University of Maine.
Nikita is a Graduate student, pursuing her PhD in Physics at the University of Maine.
Nikita is a Graduate student, pursuing her PhD in Physics at the University of Maine.
Ayesha is a lecturer in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. She came to UMaine in 2014 to pursue her graduate degree in mathematics. Maine is now as much a home for her as her hometown of Delhi. She continues to be involved in organizing and participating in cultural and social events on campus and loves meeting new people.
Ayesha is a lecturer in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. She came to UMaine in 2014 to pursue her graduate degree in mathematics. Maine is now as much a home for her as her hometown of Delhi. She continues to be involved in organizing and participating in cultural and social events on campus and loves meeting new people.