Sur Sagar 2024

Category Student Voices

Author

Samia Afrose Class of '25
Authored on January 25, 2025

Article

Sur Sagar is an annual event held by the Harvard Undergraduate Ghungroo in collaboration with a different organization each year. At the event, there is an intimate showcase of South Asian performing arts including singing, dancing, and spoken words. 

Students gathered to watch the Sur Sagar perfromances

Every year Ghungroo collaborates with a different organization in efforts to fundraise for a humanitarian crisis. The first year it started, Ghungroo collaborated with the Pakistani Student Association to raise money for flood relief in Pakistan; the following year they collaborated with the Society of Arab Students for earthquake relief in Morocco, and this year they collaborated with the Bengali Association of Students at Harvard (BASHA) for flood relief in Bangladesh after over 18 million people were affected, over 1.2 million people trapped because of the floods, and many people dead. For the past two years, the event has also been in collaboration with the Signet Society, as they kindly let the organizations use their space.

Samia Afrose, President of BASHA speaking about the Flood Relief Fundraiser for Bangladesh.
Samia Afrose, President of BASHA speaking about the Flood Relief Fundraiser for Bangladesh. Photo Creds: Ibta Chowdhury

Many of the performers include Harvard Deepam, Harvard Bhangra, the South Asian Music Association, and students from the Harvard Community. 

Deepam dance performance
friends taking a picture at Sur Sagar
SAMA performing

It is really nice to have moments on campus where we are able to come together and appreciate South Asian culture, meet new people, and give back to the community at an event like Sur Sagar. The Harvard community is so big, and even after 3 years of being here there were many attendees at the event who I did not know, but had a great time chatting with.

Bhangra performing
Deepam performing
Students watching performances with their phone flashlight on

Huge thanks to the directors of Ghungroo 2025: Ashini, Davina, and Sreela for organizing this event.

HANA REHMAN
Former and current directors of Ghungroo. Photo Creds: Ibta Chowdhury

Sur Sagar has been one of my favorite highlights of the semester so far. It's a time when friends come together and appreciate South Asian food and culture, while donating towards a good cause. You meet new people, catch up with friends, sing along collectively, and admire the beautiful dances and spoken word performances. This is a great way for the people to give back while making memories.

Tags

  • First-Year
  • Student Activities
  • Student Life

Samia Afrose Class of '25

Hi! My name is Samia Afrose.

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