There was something truly special about seeing women come together for our Henna, Heritage and Happiness session as part of the Bollywood Bliss Dance, Art and Wellbeing Festival.
The evening was filled with colour, creativity and conversation as women explored different styles of henna and shared stories about its place within South Asian culture. Henna is so much more than beautiful decoration. For generations, it has been part of weddings, Eid, festivals and important family celebrations. It represents joy, love, good fortune and the coming together of families and communities.
As the henna flowed, so did the conversations. Women who may not have known one another at the beginning of the evening sat together, talked, laughed and formed new connections.
And, of course, no South Asian celebration would be complete without wonderful food. We enjoyed traditional chicken tikka with warm naan, followed by cake with walnuts served with custard and delicious meethi seviyan, a traditional sweet vermicelli dish often shared during celebrations and special family occasions. Refreshing mint tea brought the meal to a perfect close. The food was incredible and added another layer of warmth, hospitality and shared culture to the evening.
By the end, everyone was dancing to the beat of Bollywood music. It was heartening to see the room filled with such joy, freedom and happiness.
The feedback from those who attended was wonderfully warm. Women told us how much they had enjoyed the evening, particularly the opportunity to try henna, share food, meet new people and dance together. Many said they were already looking forward to the next session. It was lovely to hear that the evening had given people an opportunity to relax, enjoy themselves and feel part of the community.
This is why community activities like these matter. They create welcoming spaces where people can step outside their everyday routines, reduce feelings of isolation, make friends and build supportive networks. Creativity, movement, music, shared food and cultural experiences can all contribute to improved confidence, emotional wellbeing and mental health.
It was also wonderful to see South Asian heritage being celebrated so openly while inviting women from different backgrounds to learn, participate and enjoy it together. Culture has an incredible ability to bring people closer. When we share our traditions, we do more than preserve them. We create understanding, belonging and friendship.
A beautiful evening of henna, heritage, delicious food, Bollywood music and, most importantly, human connection. Our sincere thanks to everyone who joined us and made the room come alive, and to The National Lottery Community Fund for helping make this work possible.
