Unity Fest at HSE
Unity Fest at HSE University is an essential cultural event, bringing diverse student communities together to celebrate multiculturalism, foster unity, and promote intercultural exchange. Featuring vibrant performances, interactive workshops, international cuisine, and engaging exhibitions, the festival offers a unique opportunity for students from various backgrounds to experience global traditions firsthand. Participating in UNITY FEST allows students to enhance their cultural awareness, develop friendships across different nationalities, and actively contribute to the inclusive campus environment. This annual celebration not only showcases the rich diversity within the university but also encourages students to become culturally sensitive and globally-minded citizens. Every student should join UNITY FEST to fully appreciate HSE University's commitment to diversity, unity, and enriching student life.
Upon my arrival in HSE University as an international student, I expected a new system of education, discovering the historical marks of Moscow, and learning the Russian language. What I hadn’t expected was how much I would come to love Russian culture – and it first started at HSE Unity Fest.
First Impressions: A Walk into Living Heritage
The Unity Festival is one of the much-awaited events that take place on the campus every year. Organized by the Russians and international students, it unites the colorful diversity of ethnic, linguistic and artistic traditions, all scattered around the world, at one place. The instant I entered into the decorated hall of the university building it seemed like entering a tapestry that had been woven from the centuries of global history and identity.
Large colorful banners and hand-made decorations were hanging on the walls. Stalls were lined up on both sides of the hall and each one more colorful than the other. What started as a mere curiosity, turned into a whole-day plunge into the stories, food and rhythms of cultures from all over the world. I was immediately immersed in traditional music, warm spices, dances in folk costumes, and friendly students that wanted to share fragments from their motherland.
The Russian Cultural Mosaic: A Hidden Gem for Many
In this festival, there was a separate section that exhibited the amazing diversity of Russian culture. The stalls included many regions from the Russian Far East. Students dressed up in the traditional clothes and gave the history of their crafts, songs and customs.
I was particularly touched by the performance of Ossetian dance from Caucasus, which was performed by students with breath taking precision. The footwork, the drumbeat, the combat between the masculine and the feminine dances – it all gave a story of pride, resistance, and festivity. I had not seen any such in my life.
Later, I went to the stall of the Buryatia and learned there about the throat singing and the spiritual value of Lake Baikal. In another stand, students of the Russian Orthodox presented the symbolism of religious icons and the way folklore coheres with the religious festivals in the Slavic lands.
It was in these moments that I have understood that Russia is not a monolith – it’s a breathtakingly complex array of cultures and languages that needs worldwide recognition.
A Celebration of Global Diversity
And although the festival was not primarily the exhibition of diversity in Russia, it was, in a way, the festival of different cultures of this planet. Alongside the Russian regional booths stood stalls representing countries and cultures from every continent.
I checked out the Latin American stall, which was a whirlwind of energy. Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico students provided arepas; brigadeiros; and danced salsa. There were maps of Amazon Rainforest and talks about Carnival traditions. The African stall had bright textiles from Nigeria and Ghana, traditional drums, and Afrobeat performances that made everybody clap their hands.
South-east Asian stall represented by students’ of Pakistan, India and Indonesia was full of spices and warmth. They distributed biryani, spring rolls, sticky rice, and sweet milk tea, and talked about traditional festivals such as Holi and Henna festival.
On the other side, across from them, the Central Asian stall drew my eye with robust jewelry, and meaty meals such as plov and lagman. Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan students sang folk songs and impressed even by the embroidering of hats.
The East Asian stalls had a less intense, minimalist aesthetic of their own, with tea ceremonies, Japanese calligraphy, and Korean pop culture exhibitions. Chinese students demonstrated how to create a piece of art from folded paper, others taught the guests to write their names in Kanji or Hangul.
The Arabian stall, which was represented by the students of Egypt, Syria, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia, presented a wonderful set of spices, incense and calligraphy art. The guests were given an opportunity to try baklava and mint tea, listen to traditional music, and explore Ramadan, Eid, and the cultural practices regarding hospitality.
And of course, there was European stall which was represented by students from France, Germany, Italy, and the UK. There was cheese sampling, sampling of olive oil, mini language lessons. French students organized a trivia game about the great European artists and philosophers, the Italians suggested everyone to stop by for a quick game of scopa.
It seemed a little world’s fair, and I did not want it to come to an end.
Students as Cultural Ambassadors
The thing that left the most vivid impression on me in the event was the pride and excitement with which students described their backgrounds. Students were a cultural ambassador regardless of being on stage or at stalls. For most of them, it was the first experience of performing a traditional dance in a foreign country and describing their national cuisine to the peers.
At home, never did we think that we would be able to make a representation of our own culture in Russia. But here at HSE, it seems to us that our voices matter. - said one of my friends from Pakistan.
I think that others feel the same way. If it was a student from Mongolia playing Morin Khuur on stage, or a Latin American teaching salsa steps to curious by-standers, there was a sense of joy in sharing culture – not as a matter of protocol, but a way of connecting.
The Importance of Being Seen
Most of us come from places that are misinterpreted, neglected, or taken for granted with stereotypes. However, in the Unity Fest, there is no place for reduction. Instead, each stall, each performance, each traditional cuisine is a storytelling, taking back space, reclaimed in all colors.
Being from South Asia, I was happy to see my culture being displayed among so many others. Our stand had henna art, chai making, and even a short Kathak dance performance. Student’ and faculty reaction was resoundingly favorable. People cared and were not simply nice – they were interested, asking intelligent questions, learning, interacting.
Beyond Stereotypes: Rediscovering Russia
The most valuable lesson that I learnt that day was about Russia itself. Sporadically, international media limits itself to talk about politics or obsolescence of the Cold War stories. What they overlook are the everyday people, the students, artists, dancers, cooks, and volunteers all, who bring with them the warmth and the creative spirit of this land.
This fest destroyed my preconceived ideas and exposed the soul of Russia as the land of stories worth listening, songs worth singing, and people worth knowing. The Unity Fest provides a different way of perceiving the country – not through headlines, but through the heritage.
Building Community, Culture at a Time
The festival was not all about demonstration of diversity. It was about building community. Students of the deeply disparate background went cooking, decorating, performing and learning together. The camaraderie could be seen in those endeavors. You didn’t need to speak the same language in order for you to dance together, laugh together or share a plate of food.
One of the moments that I like most was the closing ceremony during which dancers from different regions and continents performed together for a dance performance. A combination of Russian folk dance, African beats, Latin rhythms and the Asiatic melodies went to form a harmony too large than life itself. The whole audience present stood up to applaud.
At that instance, I experienced what HSE truly stands for – not merely academic proficiency but human connection beyond boundaries.
Why You Shouldn’t Miss It
If you are a freshman of HSE or just planning to apply, don’t miss the Unity Fest. Regardless of your origin either in Moscow or Madrid, Buryatia or Bogotá, this event will give something priceless to everyone. belonging, and more understanding of the world through the context of being on the same boat when we celebrate.
To me, the Unity Fest was not an event, but a milestone. It made it possible for me to look at myself not as a visitor, but as a part of something much bigger. a worldly family grounded on respect, curiosity and happiness.
Since here at HSE, culture is not only learned, it is experienced.
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