Bareilly — Students studying Mandarin at the Multilingual Centre of Excellence, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University, enthusiastically celebrated Taiwan’s traditional Mid-Autumn Festival under the chairmanship of Vice Chancellor Prof. Anil Kumar Rai, under the guidance of centre coordinator Prof. Anita Tyagi, and with support from Mandarin language teacher Chiali Chen. The festival, traditionally observed across Taiwan and many other Asian countries, symbolizes family, friendship, togetherness, and cultural reverence for the moon.
During the program, Chiali Chen introduced students to the cultural background and traditions of the Mid-Autumn Festival, including the well-known folk tale of “Chang-e Flying to the Moon.” Students were also introduced to the cultural significance of the pomelo fruit, traditionally eaten during the festival.
To make the celebration more creative and participatory, students took part in a pomelo art and craft activity, decorating pomelos in various imaginative forms and showcasing their creativity and artistic talent. Through this activity, students gained a deeper understanding of Taiwanese culture and festival traditions.
Students also enjoyed traditional Taiwanese oolong tea and assorted snacks prepared by their teacher. Through tea, food, and conversation, they experienced firsthand the spirit of family and community warmth associated with the festival. The program concluded with students learning and collectively performing the popular Mandarin song “The Moon Represents My Heart,” which added special charm to the event and gave students an opportunity to practice Mandarin pronunciation and usage in a natural setting.
The various activities organized on the occasion went beyond simply teaching Mandarin, introducing students to Taiwanese culture, folk traditions, cuisine, music, and creative expression. Students participated enthusiastically, understanding the cultural and human dimensions of the Mid-Autumn Festival while expressing their interest in and appreciation for Taiwanese culture.
This cultural event, held at the class level within the centre, will be followed by a grand university-level celebration in October. The initiative marked a meaningful step by the centre toward linking language learning with cultural experience, making the study of Mandarin and Taiwanese culture more engaging and lively for students.
Reported by Akhilesh Chandra Saxena, Bareilly
