Blog: Easter? I'd heard of it, but never celebrated
Hi, my name's Gautam, and I'm an International Student pursuing a Master's in International Relations. My first encounter with Easter was probably it being mentioned in general knowledge books. Never thought I'd be celebrating it in the UK with friends one day. But here we are!
The Instagram Post
Since coming to the UK in September 2025, I've been actively involved with the University, academically and socially. Not to mention, I'm the person who attended so many Guild-organised events that even the organisers know my name now!
Like any other event, the Easter celebrations were mentioned on the UoB Guild's Halls Life Instagram account, and like any other event I don't miss, I attended this one too. But this time, I had no idea what it was all about. But that's the beauty of experiencing different cultures.
The Jarratt Hall Saga
Tired from attending 1 lecture and 2 seminars, I started my journey from the Muirhead Tower to one of the University's accommodations – Jarratt Hall. After a 15-minute walk, I reached the destination, and it was time to pick from the varieties of sweets scattered around the table. I took my favourite brownie and thought that was it, but there was more to it.
One of the organisers said we'd get secret prizes if we could find all the colourful eggs hidden outside the social space. Yes, and this is where the fun begins. With a plate of brownie in one hand and curiosity in the other, I started the egg hunt. I was the one who found 5 eggs first. Very proudly, I declared, "Don't waste your time, guys, I got them all already," only to discover there were more than 50 colourful eggs spread out.
Well, each of my friends got 5 eggs this time, and we all got our gifts – massive Cadbury chocolates and squishy jelly chicks.
Surprising Revelations
Now it was time to make some bracelets, but I was more interested in finding out about Easter as a festival – only to realise its significance is similar to one of India's largest festivals, Vijayadashami, signifying the defeat of death and sin, symbolising new life and redemption. Vijayadashami celebrates Lord Rama’s victory over Ravana, and Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, symbolising the triumph of good over evil.
A few similarities I found were prayers; Christians go to church services on Easter, while Hindus perform puja and prayers on Vijayadashami; communities gather together to celebrate and participate in festive activities. This truly made Easter a festival to relate to. I also read something about the Easter Bunny. I'm yet to find it. Will let you all know once I find it.
The After Effects
Before coming to the UK, I actually thought I'd be missing home badly. Not gonna lie, but I'm experiencing the opposite. Together with other events organised by the University, this cultural experience made me feel like I'm a part of a bigger community, one where I felt at home while also encountering and getting curious about different cultures!