Our undergraduate intern, Samaga Pokharel ’26, reports on one of Harvard’s beloved traditions: the Weekly Friday Tea. She gave us her own account of the delicious chai and lassi served each week, where attendees gather to connect over cuisine about all things South Asia.
“I will never forget my first Weekly Friday Tea hosted by the South Asian Department. One of my friends mentioned that the South Asian Tea happens every Friday, so we all showed up. There was a lot of food…and a good variety too. Paneer, (halal) chicken, chai, lassi, pulao, samosas, pakoras, and more! We chatted for quite a long time and met many wonderful graduate students. Most people were speaking English, but it was really nice to hear a mixture of different South Asian tongues as well–Urdu, Bangla, Hindi, Nepali–which created a truly welcoming space.
When the South Asian Studies Department was established, faculty members realized that there was a lack of low-stakes events involving elements of South Asia. The Friday Tea was born in hopes of providing a relaxed environment where undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, and staff can enjoy South Asian appetizers and chai, while also engaging in meaningful and safe discussions with other attendees.
The weekly gatherings occur in the South Asian Studies Department, located on the 3rd floor of 1 Bow Street. There are usually South Asian snacks like I mentioned above; other times there is a full South Asian meal! Chai and lassi are always the constant. There is plenty of space for people to interact, and attendees are excited to meet others and start conversations.
There is usually a mixture of undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty members from all of the Harvard campuses. Some individuals are regulars and attend every week, while others try to join whenever they can. Personally, I make an effort to attend every week because it’s a great time to catch up with my friends after a busy week. It serves as a time to debrief about our week while enjoying food that brings a taste of home. As Harvard college students, we often get engulfed in the hustling culture so it’s important to find community-based events that allow us to relax and find remembrance of home; a lot of us also can’t easily go home to eat cultural food made by our family, so it’s great to have a place here where we can enjoy true South Asian food.
Come by the South Asian Studies Department at 3pm on Fridays to experience it yourself!”
Written by Samaga Pokharel ’26. Photos by Jaronica Fuller, Program Administrator, Department of South Asian Studies.
