Photos by CLAIRE ZUGMEYER Groups of women dance in concentric
circles as they perform a traditional Garba dance in the Navratri
celebration. About 1,200 people celebrated in Ackerman Grand
Ballroom Friday night.
By Hemesh Patel
Daily Bruin Reporter
Nearly 1,200 people gathered in Ackerman Grand Ballroom on Oct.
27. to take part in the Indian Student Union’s second annual
Navratri celebration.
The event consisted of two types of dances, garba and raas, and
featured a devotional hymn to the goddess Mataji.
“Navratri is celebrated all over India for many different
reasons in a variety of manners,” said Rajiv Kanani, culture
chair of the Indian Students Association.
One aspect of Navratri celebrates the feminine characteristics
of nature.
“Traditionally women gracefully performed garba in
concentric circles to celebrate fertility,” Kanani said.
Navratri is celebrated with as much fervor and joy in America as
it is in India, Kanani said. But while dancing takes place for nine
consecutive nights in India, celebrations are usually held four
weekends in a row in the U.S., mostly for convenience.
For many, Navratri is an opportunity to link generations of
Indians.
“When my grandmother was young, she had a ball
“˜garba-ing.'” Kanani said. “My parents
still have that spark in their eye every time garba season comes
around because they will be able to see all their friends dance
together.”
Garba originated in villages in Gujarat, a state in western
India. While some men participate in garba, it mostly attracts
female dancers.
The hymn, or aarti, is conducted between garba and raas. During
this time, participants offer blessings to the goddess by lighting
small candles.
“It is a way of realizing the oneness of everyone and
everything, with everyone singing and clapping to the rhythmic beat
at the same time,” Kanani said. “This unity could be
felt by everyone.”
The evening concluded with raas, a dance characterized by simple
choreography where participants clap two wooden sticks
together.
“Raas traces its roots back to the days when Lord Krishna
gleefully performed this dance along the Yamuna River, and this
tradition still continues today,” Kanani said.
The highlight of the night for Kanani was watching non-Indians
dance garba and raas.
“It didn’t matter whether I knew the steps of the
dance or not. The whole point was to have fun,” said Neha
Bhasin, a second-year physiological sciences student.
Some students were disappointed the event did not last longer
and felt a disproportionate amount of time was granted to each
dance.
“I think they spent too much time on the garba portion of
the evening,” said Vishnu Brahmandam, a third-year
biochemistry student.
Despite overcrowding at last year’s event, some thought
this year’s Navratri celebration was not as good.
“Last year it was more fun because it lasted a longer
time, but it was cool to see others enjoying the Indian
culture,” said Nidhi Gupta, a second-year neuroscience
student.
But for first-timers, this year’s celebration in Ackerman
was well worth it.
“It was my first experience, and it was entertaining,
cultural and religious all at once,” Bhasin said. “The
event combined these three aspects very nicely.”
Groups of women dance in concentric circles as they perform a
traditional Garba dance in the Navratri celebration. About 1,200
people celebrated in Ackerman Grand Ballroom Friday night.
Dancers form concentric circles around the image of goddess
Mataji Friday night as part of the Indian Student Union’s
dance event.