Welcome to the Department of Inter Religious Studies, St. Xaviers College, Mumbai
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WORLD INDIGENOUS DAY
On August 22, 2025, the Department of Inter-Religious Studies (DIRS) at St. Xavier’s College hosted a vibrant Cultural Fair celebrating the East Indian community of India, in honor of World Indigenous Day. The fair featured an array of stalls showcasing the rich heritage of the East Indian community. These included displays on the community’s history, their neighborhoods and key locations, marriage rituals, traditional clothing, and jewelry. A dedicated games stall added a playful element, engaging the attendees.
the event transitioned to stage performances, kicking off with an electrifying dance by the Uthankoli community. The Kupari East Indian community then took the stage with another dynamic dance performance, further showcasing the community’s cultural vibrancy.
The highlight of the day was a performance by an East Indian band, which played traditional wedding songs, setting the stage for an exuberant dance session. Students and faculty alike joined in, dancing with infectious energy and enthusiasm.
DIYA PAINTING WORKSHOP
On September 17, 2025, the Department of Interdisciplinary Research Studies (DIRS) organized a Diya Painting Workshop from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, fostering creativity and community engagement in celebration of the Diwali season. Volunteers collected the painted diyas for drying and recorded the names of faculty members to whom the students wished to gift their creations, emphasizing the workshop’s theme of generosity and connection during Diwali.
The Diya Painting Workshop successfully celebrated the art of giving, aligning with Diwali’s cultural values, while promoting creativity and community spirit within the DIRS academic environment.
CLEAR YOUR CACHE!!!
On September 22, 2025, the Department of Inter-Religious Studies (DIRS), St. Xavier’s College (Empowered Autonomous Institute), organized an introspective event titled “Clear the Cache of Guilt, Free Your Heart” in the college foyer. The event, creatively themed around retro computer interfaces, invited students to reflect on self-forgiveness by openly acknowledging personal burdens and replacing them with positive affirmations. The anonymous yet public nature of the board encouraged vulnerability while fostering a sense of shared humanity.
Participants wrote candidly about academic pressures, familial expectations, personal regrets, feelings of inadequacy, and past mistakes. Common themes included fear of failure, comparison with peers, and lingering guilt over perceived shortcomings. The workshop successfully created a safe, non-judgmental space for emotional release and self-reflection, aligning with DIRS’s commitment to holistic well-being forgiveness and mercy.
GIFT CULTURE WEEK
The Department of Inter-Religious Studies celebrated the festive season with “Gift Culture Week” from December 8th to 11th, a multi-day initiative designed to promote mindfulness, creativity, gratitude, forgiveness, and generosity. Through a series of interactive stations set up in the college woods, students were invited to engage in reflective and expressive activities that embodied the spirit of giving both to others and to oneself.
Throughout the week, the stations attracted consistent participation from students across the college. Gift Culture Week successfully cultivated a campus culture of empathy, creativity, and generosity, leaving participants with tangible keepsakes, lighter hearts, and a strengthened sense of community during the holiday season. A special highlight was the gracious presence of alumni Joel Alexander, one of the original establishers of the Gift Culture Week tradition. His visit added immense value, inspiring team with stories of how the initiative began and its enduring impact on campus culture.
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