6 Fun Ways To Celebrate South Asian Heritage Month At Work

South Asian Heritage Month first began in 2020, and has since been celebrated annually from the 18th July to the 17th August. It’s a chance to commemorate and celebrate South Asian cultures, histories, and communities, and to understand the diverse heritage and cultures that continue to link the UK with South Asia. In the workplace, South Asian Heritage Month provides a unique opportunity to embrace diversity, foster inclusivity, and create a more vibrant and culturally aware environment.  

Which countries make up South Asia?  

Afghanistan 

Bangladesh 

Bhutan 

India 

The Maldives 

Nepal 

Pakistan 

Sri Lanka 

Each one of these countries has been hugely impacted by its relationship with Britain through wars, colonisation, and the British Empire. Despite these combined histories sometimes being dark and complex, today, South Asian communities are an integral part of British society, enriching it with their cultural, social, and economic contributions. The historical links between the UK and South Asia continue to shape the multicultural fabric of modern Britain, and this is perhaps nowhere more important than within our workplaces. In this article, we’ll be taking a look at six fun and unique ways to celebrate South Asian Heritage Month at work. 

1. Hold a food-tasting session

Food is a universal language: a way to experience, celebrate, and enjoy life. So, it’s no coincidence that, although Asian cuisine spans continents and countries, its richness in culture, diversity, and flavour truly brings people together beyond geographical borders. If you work within reach of one of the UK’s cities, you’ll almost certainly have access to a restaurant that specialises in South Asian cuisine you can have delivered to the office for everyone to enjoy. If not, why not try rustling up some recipes yourselves? While you’re enjoying each dish, it’s a great time to discuss different counties and cultures and learn something new – why not print off recipe cards for each dish, or create fact sheets about the history and culture of the different countries from which your recipes hail? 

2. Host a book club

Hosting a book club focused on South Asian literature is an excellent way to delve into the rich literary traditions of the region and promote multicultural understanding within your workplace. There’s no shortage of online resources to help you find appropriate texts, and you can always turn to sites such as World of Books to help you source them at an affordable price. After you’ve chosen your texts, be sure to set up a suitable structure for discussion: appoint someone to lead the group, and to think of thought-provoking questions to help you explore the themes more deeply. It’s also important to establish a safe and inclusive space where everyone feels comfortable expressing their opinions and experiences.  

Here’s a few of our reading recommendations: 

• A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth 
• I Belong Here by Anita Sethi
• Jikoni by Ravinder Bhogal 
• Partition Voices by Kavita Puri

3. Host a movie afternoon

If reading’s not your thing, don’t worry, there’s still plenty of ways to explore South Asian art as a team, and choosing the medium of film is ideal. Remember, South Asian Heritage Month is all about celebrating the region’s links with the UK, so it’s ideal to choose films which focus on that topic. For example, A Private Enterprise gives the viewer a social realist insight into what it was like for an Indian immigrant trying to get by in 1970s Britain, while Bhaji on the Beach follows a group of intergenerational Punjabi women on a day out to see the Blackpool illuminations, exploring the clash between modernism and the traditional values of Punjab. After you’ve watched your chosen film, open up the discussion: did watching the film provide any new insights or broaden your understanding of South Asian culture? Did the film resonate with your own personal experiences or perspectives in any way? 

4. Launch an employee resource group

Although it varies by area, people who can trace their origins to South Asia make up around 10% of the UK population, meaning they also make up a sizable proportion of the workforce. If your company is large enough to employ ten or more employees who identify as this, South Asian Heritage Month is a great time to launch a resource group. These groups create spaces where employees can be fully themselves and find solidarity with peers. These gatherings provide team members with a sense of camaraderie, belonging, and psychological safety, and empower them to advocate for their ideas and needs. These groups can be a powerful force for good within any organisation, andmay focus on initiatives such as launching mentoring policies, developing and nurturing future leaders, or suggesting volunteering and community-based projects.  

5. Go on a virtual tour

Booking a flight to South Asia may be beyond the scope of your budget this quarter, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find more creative ways to explore this beautiful part of the world. For example, Google Arts and Culture offers incredible virtual tours of heritage sites such as the Taj Mahal, Mount Everest’s base camp in Nepal, or the Lahore museum in Pakistan. Your only limit is your imagination! Before each virtual tour, it’s a great idea to host a mini-learning session to talk about each region, its history, cultural significance, and links with the UK. If any team members have visited these destinations in person, they could share their experience with the rest of the group. 

6. Host an art or crafting class 

Art has played a vital role in South Asian history for centuries, serving as a means of expression, cultural preservation, and storytelling. From intricate textiles to vibrant paintings and intricate jewellery, South Asian art showcases a remarkable blend of different influences and techniques. Hosting office crafting sessions are therefore a fantastic way to celebrate South Asian Heritage Month in the workplace and delve into the rich artistic traditions of the region. If you can find one, you might consider hiring an expert to come in and share the history and traditions of a particular artform such as calligraphy, or you could just watch some online tutorials and try to have a go yourself! The key to hosting any craft class or art class is to pay homage to its roots and history. While these crafts are decorative and fun, they are also steeped in fascinating tradition.