Hindu

Mount Holyoke College’s Office of Religious and Spiritual Life supports a Hindu group on campus.   SHRI, Sisters of Hinduism Reaching Inward, was founded by a group of dedicated Mount Holyoke students in 2001. SHRI started as a small organization that met on a weekly basis in Abbey Chapel. Since its inception SHRI has come a long way. Today SHRI has its own prayer room in Eliot House where students from all faith groups join for weekly prayer meetings and dinner on Thursdays from 5 to 7 pm.

SHRI’s aim is to create awareness about Hindu customs in the Five College community. SHRI periodically organizes various Hindu festivals in the fall and spring. In the fall, SHRI usually organizes Dandiya, a lively dance usually performed with sticks to celebrate the end of Navratri (Nine nights) and Diwali, festival of lights to commemorate the return of Lord Ram to his capital Ayodhya after defeating the menacing demon Ravana. In the spring, SHRI sponsors a fundraiser with ‘Samhati Dance Group’ that performs classical dances from various parts of India. The organization also organizes Holi, a festival of colors to celebrate the beginning of spring. SHRI has a group of committed students who aim to create a welcoming community and an atmosphere of a home away from home.

To be put on this group's email list to receive notices of upcoming events, please fill out a Contact Request Form.

The Hindu Advisor to the student community is Manju Sharma.  Please e-mail her for more information or religious support at msharma@nre.umass.edu