The Gujarati Samaj Magdeburg brought the festive spirit alive with a spectacular Gujarati New Year Snehmilan 2024, held on November 9th. The event was nothing short of magical, filled with fun, food, and cultural fervor. It was a heartfelt celebration that reminded us of the joy of togetherness and the beauty of our traditions.

A Warm Welcome and Joyful BeginningsThe evening began with a warm welcome and a traditional pooja to invoke blessings for the year ahead. Guests, adorned in vibrant traditional attire, set the stage for a festive atmosphere. It was especially delightful to see members of the Gujarati Samaj Wolfsburg joining us, strengthening the bond between communities.

Food That Touched the SoulWhat’s a Gujarati celebration without lip-smacking food? The event featured a sumptuous dinner that included spicy pani puri, a classic favorite that had everyone lining up for seconds! From chhole puri to Gujarati farsan, every dish was a testament to our rich culinary heritage. The flavors brought smiles to faces and added to the overall joy of the evening.
Fun, Dance, and TogethernessThe event was packed with activities for all ages. Engaging games brought laughter and cheer, while the highlight of the evening was the live musical performance by our talented local artists. Their energy and passion brought the crowd to their feet! The night ended with an electric Garba and Bollywood DJ session, as everyone danced their hearts out.

A Community UnitedOne of the most beautiful aspects of the Snehmilan was the sense of community. It was heartwarming to see smiles everywhere—whether it was kids enjoying games, families sharing dinner, or friends reconnecting over shared traditions. Guests from Wolfsburg added to the spirit of togetherness, making the event even more special.
Gratitude and Looking AheadWe extend our heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers, participants, and artists who made this event a grand success. Your efforts and energy brought this vision to life! A special shoutout to the community members who helped spread the word and supported the event in every way.
As we wrap up another unforgettable celebration, we look forward to many more events that bring our community together. Thank you for being a part of this joyful journey. Here’s to a year filled with love, laughter, and endless celebrations!
Stay tuned for updates on upcoming events, and let’s continue to celebrate our culture with pride. Happy Gujarati New Year!

#GSMSnehmilan2024 #GujaratiSamajMagdeburg #GujaratiNewYear #CulturalCelebration #CommunityLove #FoodFunAndFamily #MagdeburgEvents #UnityThroughCulture #GujaratiTraditions​

A Community United Through Dance
One of the highlights of the evening was seeing people from all backgrounds try their hand at *Garba* and *Dandiya Raas*. For those new to it, the moves may look intricate, but with a little guidance, they quickly catch on. Gujaratis were excited to share the cultural nuances of the dances, demonstrating steps, and explaining the symbolism behind each style. For German friends and other guests, it was a chance to immerse themselves in an entirely new rhythm. And it wasn’t just the dance; it was the joy and spirit of togetherness that drew everyone into the celebration.

Traditional Food and Flavors
Navratri is also a time of traditional food, and this event didn't miss a beat. There was a spread of mouthwatering Gujarati snacks and sweets, allowing everyone to indulge in the flavors of the festival. As guests took breaks between dancing, they could enjoy a taste of Gujarat’s culinary delights.
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Fostering Cultural Exchange and Appreciation
Events like these play a significant role in fostering cultural exchange, particularly in a city like Magdeburg, where the international community continues to grow. German friends, colleagues, and neighbors who attended experienced firsthand the warmth and joy of Indian festivities. Seeing the mix of traditional and modern, as well as the respect and interest shown by everyone, made the night even more special. It was a wonderful reminder of how such events are powerful in bridging cultures and creating a community of mutual respect and appreciation.


Wrapping Up the Celebration
As the night went on, the energy never seemed to wane. The event ended on a high note, with smiles, laughter, and new friendships forged on the dance floor. The success of the Navratri Utsav at Factory Magdeburg was not only due to the spirited dancing and delicious food but also the unity and enthusiasm shared by everyone who attended. 

The Navratri celebration in Magdeburg has now become a beloved tradition, eagerly anticipated by both the Indian and local communities. This night was yet another testament to how traditions can transcend borders, and how, through these celebrations, Magdeburg continues to shine as a multicultural city open to experiences from all around the world. 

So, as we look forward to the next year, we carry with us the memories of a night filled with music, dance, and joy. Here’s to more such gatherings, where we celebrate our diversity and come together as one.

​Until next year, *Jai Mata Di!*
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-Ankit SHELADIYA

At the time of writing this question, I have crossed the 3-year mark of my time in Germany. I was always thinking about this question for my self, and by writing this question I want to relive this 3 year of the journey by sharing the experience with you all reader.

I moved to Germany on 18th December 2015 on the last working day of that year before school vacations. It was a good welcome for me as Christmas was just a week away and the whole country was decorated and happiness was in the air. My first city in Germany was Berlin, where I initially stayed with a German guest family. The reason behind moving to Germany was higher studies and I chose to do my Master in German taught the course, so in Berlin, I need to do my language course and after getting the required certificate I need to start my study, that was the plan I was following. I was told by the German teacher back home (she was also working in Berlin, she was on a contract of 2 months for language teaching in India), Germans are pretty cold by nature. My host or I say Guest mother (Gast mutter, she also used to introduce her as my Gast mutter when we are out) prepared food for me almost a week and showed me everything in the Hause and also markets and localities around. I enjoyed this as it was vacation time for me and I had time to know the people closely. She also invited me to the Christmas party at her daughter's place and we had a great evening. I am mentioning it as I was never away from my home till I finished my bachelor study and suddenly moving to a foreign country can have a negative impact on a person, feeling the homesick and missing family is hard for some people, here my guest mother made me my start in Germany a lot smoother. She was a teacher by profession and we used to talk during breakfast about different topics such as history, war and etc. , which eventually helped me to improve my German and also who doesn’t like stories. When I first came I had done A1 level exam and also finished the half class for A2 level, so I can understand the easy conversation, her stories made me confident to speak fluently. I stayed there for 4 months and during that time I was doing my language classes, around July in 2016 I finished my C1 class, and by end of October, I appeared for DSH, Telc C1, and TestDAF. Out of this 3 exam, I qualified in two (Telc and TestDAF), which was needed to get the admission in any German taught course across Germany. I can say 2016 was a year of learning for me, as I not only to learn the German language but also the different aspects of German culture and behavior. Being in Berlin it was also fun as Berlin is quite open and famous for it’s welcoming and colorful life.

By October I had 3 confirm admissions with me. I chose TU Chemnitz as it was directly connected with my Bachelor content. Until now everything was smooth and I was also faster than others, by qualifying exam soon and also securing admission in 9 months of time. In Chemnitz, I started my study in Germany, everything was going fine. In November I was going to India for some family function, but I fell sick and I couldn't go to INDIA. Also, I didn’t appear for the exam as I was kind of under stress because of the sudden events, which I was not expecting. This was the time where you need your family the most, as they are the one who takes care of you during sickness. Here I was dealing with everything on my own and also the German medical system is also a little bit complicated for me. I learned a lot about human behaviors and about my strength and weakness. It also made me distinguish between fake and real friends. I almost wasted 6 months in this scenario and in the meantime, I decided to leave Chemnitz and decided to start freshly Master in HAMBURG.
After skipping that semester at Chemnitz I moved to Hamburg around May 2017. This city made me fight and repair the damage done in the last few months. I started my study with a positive spirit and cleared 6 subjects in the first semester. apart from that, I was enjoying my life by taking part in different activities. My time in Hamburg was really amazing as it helped me financially, mentally and physically fit. I made lots of close friends whom I can trust. At the end of the year 2018 in September, I moved to Hannover to start my internship and thesis to finish my Master. Professors helped me finding this position and everything is running smooth. I am Automotive engineer and will start working as a full-time professional soon this year.

This is my Journey till now, I traveled a lot in Europe, tried so many fun activities, adventure sports and met some really cool people around the world. Initially my plan was to get out of my routine life in India, Master in Germany seems to be an easy and fast way, but it turned out to be a little bit longer than my stupid plan, I wanted to return back in 2 years,now I am thinking of staying 5 more years to make a strong career and than move back. A lot of things has changed in this duration. Some in my self and some in my way of thinking and taking things. I can’t go more in details but I would list the things I would like to share with you all.

• You need to learn the German language, whether you like it or not? No one will ever tell this to you but you will feel it if you are unable to speak fluent German.
• You need to become a rule-obedient citizen, there is no choice for you or no back door escape if you were caught in doing something wrong
• Work ethics and culture is on top most priority, you need to follow it. Being punctual is one of them, which is also applicable in personal life
• Not all German are racist but you may find out yourself into some situation where you feel left out
• Getting a Driving license is a hell lot of work and also cost tons of money
• You can’t be too casual with your friends until they become really close after (3–5 years), being formal is common here
• Academics is a serious thing here, they want their students to learn not just pass the degree exams
• comparatively safer country, you can easily roam late in the night in the city
• various kind of bread and beer brands are too mainstream here, you will value these things when you are out of the country or visiting family back home.
• you will complain often about weather especially in Winter and it also makes you depress as you don’t see the sun like you used to see back home.
• Summer is like a festival here, but when the temperature is about 30° you feel more annoyed than you used to be in 40+° in countries like my homeland India.
• Being a vegetarian is not that difficult but you will be left out with limited choices in restaurants. I have seen the change on this issue, but it’s still falafel or veg. Döner or fried noodles/pasta….other things are too expensive to buy or you need to prepare yourself, which is kind of fun.
• Drinking can become your part of life if you like to be in the social gathering.
• You will travel a lot…from Switzerland to Amsterdam and Spain, etc can be visited during weekends. And it’s also not that expensive to travel around Europe.

so, for me, it is kind of roller coaster ride and I am really enjoying it. I find myself more organized and peaceful than I used to be way back home. To summarize a good experience of my life and still counting.
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Germany is the pioneer country to open its University doors to all students across the EU and non-EU as well. As per my experience and perception, they have planned more from their side to make the experience of incoming students better and worth sharing.

This includes the International office in every university to make the orientation easy and find some contacts assuming you don’t know anyone here in Germany. This way you don’t feel left out as a student here. Apart from this, they provide help for accommodation search, German classes, scholarship information, financial guidance, and some intercultural activities to make one’s student life memorable. These programmes have no discrimination whether you are from the EU or Non-EU. This summarizes the official university guidance and support for International students.
Apart from feeling welcomed, you save money as there are no tuition fees in Germany. As semester contribution you pay around 250–400 euro depending on your city and university. This includes the free transportation ticket and fees to access university infrastructure such as library and canteen, etc. With your student ID card, you can avail student discount for many things starting from movie theater to museum and other entertainments.

If you have always dreamed about traveling European countries such as Switzerland, the Netherlands, etc then it’s really easy and cheap to travel to many beautiful European countries. German university doesn’t have so complicated schedules so you can always plan a short vacation even during the semester.

Safety is never a concern about being in Germany. People follow rules and they do not make unnecessary arguments. They are also helpful, but the thing is you need to ask once. You can roam around late night in most German cities without any issue. Police and security people are always there to help you out, in case of emergency.
Germany is known as the powerhouse of Europe and has a large number of job opportunities for young professionals. You can start working in your field even when you haven’t finished your studies. They pay you well and also at the same time prepare you for the industry. This kind of experience can be a dream for the student in many countries.

Germany in comparison to other EU nations offers very reasonable expenses on Food and living. The supermarket offers high-quality food products at a very affordable price. Accommodation is quite tricky in Germany as well but way lot cheaper in comparison to Switzerland or the Netherlands.
There are tons of Indian Restaurants and Indian shops to fulfill your taste desires. You can find all the needed things to cook your Favorites food from back home,regardless of which Indian state you come from. There are also many temples, Gurudwara and masjids managed by Indian community if you are little on a religious side and like to celebrate such festivals, you can do it here as well. You can travel around Europe with your schengen visa to fulfill your dream of living ZNMD moments, and what not you have everything you need for your career and adventurous life abroad.

Now getting back to your question How is the life of Indian students in Germany? It’s the same as other non-EU students …no Special treatment or no extra discrimination.but there are many things listed above offered by Germany which also expects the same kind of response from students as well to make harmony. It’s really good for a great lifestyle and quality education in Germany.
By following native rules, respecting the native culture, being reasonable and not creating any disturbance in university as well as in day to day life, then there is no issue for Indian students in Germany.

Thanks for reading.

Did you know that the various Amazon stores offer hundreds, maybe thousands, of free German books for download? Not all of them are high-quality books, but there are often some real finds among the free selections. Maybe not surprisingly, Amazon doesn’t make it easy for customers to find the free downloads.

The foreign-language downloads can be especially tricky to locate. I’ve set up specialized search links to point you directly to the free German books on four of the Amazon sites. The instructions differ a bit depending on whether you’re on Amazon Germany or on an English-language Amazon.Follow the link and read the instructions to find out how to mine some of these free little gems for yourself.

If you need help reading your ebook or troubleshooting the download, scroll to the bottom of the page for more help.

Go to free German ebooks on Amazon.de

Amazon Germany publishes lists of their most popular ebook downloads and currently allows you to examine the Top 100 free downloads in each category. The above link will take you to the Top 100 free downloads overall, but if you use the left menu on the linked page, you can narrow the search to particular themes. Make sure that Top 100 gratis is chosen on the top tab to view the list of free items for the chosen category.

I didn’t sort this list for language since presumably most of the books that come up on Amazon.de will be in German. This is a great way to expand your German library in categories that interest you. And reading things you find interesting is absolutely one of the best ways to learn a language. And it won’t cost you a cent.

Go to free German ebooks on Amazon.com.

Go to free German ebooks at Amazon.co.uk.

Go to free German ebooks at Amazon.ca.

Follow this link to free German books presorted by price from lowest to highest. This means that the books that are free to download will be at the beginning of the list. Use the left menu on the landing page to choose subcategories you are interested in. Scan through each category that interests you, but as you scroll through the books, keep your eye on the price to make sure you are still among the free offerings. Some of the books offered on Amazon.de are also offered on these sites.

Among other things, there are lots of free German literary works whose copyright has expired and that are therefore free to download. Here are a few examples of things I found interesting in Children’s Books, in Fiction, and in Crafts, Hobbies, and Home on Amazon.com.

How to read your free ebooks from AmazonIn order to read your free downloads, you will need the Kindle Reading App unless you already own a Kindle. The app is free and is available for smartphones, tablets, and computers. You can follow the directions for downloading the app that appears directly on the page of the free book you want to download. Or you can go to the free Kindle Reader apps page on Amazon.com. You will only have to download the app once and you’re good to go. Or you can download it on all of your devices and share your ebook across all of them.

Trouble downloading?Some websites only allow downloading or streaming of content for visitors who live in a specific location. For this reason, depending on your location you may not have permission to download from some of the Amazon regional sites. You have a few options. There are free proxy services (like the browser extention Hola! or Hotspot Shield for mobile devices) that allow users to circumvent region blocking. Or you can just stick to the Amazon for your region. Oftentimes, you can find a free ebook on multiple Amazon sites.

How to read your free ebooks from AmazonIn order to read your free downloads, you will need the Kindle Reading App unless you already own a Kindle. The app is free and is available for smartphones, tablets, and computers. You can follow the directions for downloading the app that appears directly on the page of the free book you want to download. Or you can go to the free Kindle Reader apps page on Amazon.com. You will only have to download the app once and you’re good to go. Or you can download it on all of your devices and share your ebook across all of them.

Trouble downloading?Some websites only allow downloading or streaming of content for visitors who live in a specific location. For this reason, depending on your location you may not have permission to download from some of the Amazon regional sites. You have a few options. There are free proxy services (like the browser extention Hola! or Hotspot Shield for mobile devices) that allow users to circumvent region blocking. Or you can just stick to the Amazon for your region. Oftentimes, you can find a free ebook on multiple Amazon sites.

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