Students, parents invited to traditional dance celebration
To passers-by, men and women prancing around a flickering light in colorful, swishing silks may have been a mesmerizing, surprising sight, but for Indian students, it’s annual occurrence.
The Indian Cultural Exchange hosted Garba, a yearly festival celebrating the holiday Navratri, in the Russell House Ballroom Monday night.
Garba, named after the traditional dance performed, dedicates nine nights of celebration to the Divine Mother, or Shakti. The Garba dance is performed in a circular pattern around a lit lamp, which acts as a representation of Shakti, meant as an object of worship. Garba means “womb” in Sanskrit.
“This is a way for students to celebrate their culture here at college and stay connected to tradition,” said Meeta Gandhi, president of the Indian Cultural Exchange.
Indian students dressed in traditional garb and assembled to dance and eat in celebration as curious students of other cultures stopped by to see the festivities.
Women wore “chaniya choli,” long, colorful skirts with blouses and scarves, and the men dressed in “jabho lengo,” loose pants and shirts, and danced to live music performed by students’ parents, who volunteered to help with the event. The occasion was catered by local Indian restaurant Delhi Palace, and a large spread of samosas (a fried pastry with spiced potatoes and peas), naan (traditional Indian bread), paneer (Indian cheese), mint and date sauces and rice were laid out for guests to enjoy.
For those less familiar with Garba, lessons were offered on the spot by members of Indian Cultural Exchange. Neha Parthasarathy and Priyanka Patel, public relations officers of the organization, were very excited for the turnout and what it meant for Indian students — and others interested in Indian culture.
“It is a really personal experience for those of other cultures to see what we do,” Patel said. “In college, it is hard to keep in touch with your culture, so it’s great for Indians, but also for others to get a taste of our culture.”