The rainbow world

Hull's Hindu community has done much to enrich the city's cultural life

There's no doubt about it, Hull is a much more colourful and vibrant place thanks to people like Rama Banerjee.
Rama, a mother-of-three from Kirkella, is the chairperson of the Hull and East Riding Hindu Cultural Association, which has more than 1,500 members across the area.
The association has been actively involved in raising awareness of Indian performing arts through music and dance.
Rama believes the arts have a role to play in preserving and reflecting the values that define, separate and unite us.
The association contributes a new dimension to the cultural life of the city and the region by hosting regular events, such as talks on Hinduism, language classes in schools, and open-air bhangra and Bollywood dancing in Queen Victoria Square.
This summer, a performance of Indian classical music and dance was held at Hull City Hall.
"I came to Hull from New Delhi, India, more than 29 years ago as a newly-married bride. My husband was working as a doctor in Hull, a job he's still doing today, caring for local patients.
"Back then the Hindu community was much smaller, and families would get together for mutual support.
"We would have small gatherings in each other's homes, or hire rooms in community centres and halls whenever we could.
"It was difficult, and we did encounter prejudice on occasions, but the main aim was to ensure our children had a chance to learn about our heritage and culture, and that our traditions were handed down to the next generation. That's why the Hull and East Riding Hindu and Cultural Association was formed.
"But now we are established and have a much larger community, we also want to share our culture with the wider population in Hull." Rama said she is inspired by and proud of her Hindu faith and beliefs, and the successful and gentle way her community conducts itself.
"We Hindus are very accommodating and integrated into the environment in which we find ourselves and conform to the rules of the society, without question. If something is frowned upon by society, we avoid it, settle into the mainstream of society and take whatever opportunities are put before us.
"It is perhaps because we do not like to make a fuss, make demands or promote ourselves that we often feel left out.
"I also believe the positive impact Hindus have on this country is not given the recognition it deserves. In our association, many of the adults are doctors and health service professionals. That is just one of the contributions we make in Hull that isn't widely known.
"Things are changing in Hull. Recently, within the last three to four years, we have really started to feel that our contributions are valued and we feel like we belong to the city. I feel that, through small steps and a lot of time and patience, we have begun to get some recognition at last.
"My hopes for the future are that, as Hindus, we continue to make valuable contributions, not isolate ourselves, and be fully accepted by and part of the mainstream of life here.
"We continue to play our part in bringing people together, so that we can all work collectively to make Hull a better place for everyone. We know there is more that unites us than there is that divides us.
"If I may paraphrase South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu: Our diverse cultures, beliefs, ethnic backgrounds, races and creeds together form the beauty that is this "Rainbow World'' we live in. The rainbow is poorer without ALL its colours, and no colour is more important than the others. We instinctively understand this, believe this, and may even defend it."

On November 18, members of the Hindu community will be performing dance routines at Ferens Art Gallery to mark a visiting exhibition from London's Victoria and Albert Museum called Cinema India: The Art of Bollywood.
It will feature more than 70 posters (see above right) and advertising hoardings from Indian cinema to capture the excitement, energy and glamour of Bollywood.