Every year, Garba, a dance form originating from the Indian state of Gujarat is celebrated during Navratri, a Hindu festival that celebrates fall. Held at the Frisco Flyers Center until Oct. 21, Garba draws Knights from various backgrounds.
Garba is an essential part of the Navaratri festival, a nine-night Hindu celebration dedicated to the goddess Durga. The dance is characterized by rhythmic movement and Dandiya sticks, which clank back and forth as participants move in a circular pattern.
Garba is often accompanied by traditional Gujarati folk music and bright-colored attire, making it a favorite for some Knights who attend every year to embrace traditional Indian fashion.
“My favorite part is the bright lehengas (traditional Indian outfit),” says Nishita Kodali, IHS senior. “Unlike Frisco, I didn’t grow up in an area with a huge South Asian population, so it’s nice to fully immerse here through the Garba festival.”
However, for some Knights who have lived in Frisco for most of their lives, Garba is a yearly tradition that has grown alongside them and their peers.
For senior Akshara Bade, who has been celebrating Garba alongside her childhood friends every year, Garba means “celebrating her culture with the people that mean most to [her],”
“I’ve grown up celebrating Garba, and it’s become a fall tradition similar to Halloween since it’s something I look forward to every year around this season,” she stated.
For some Knights like Bade, Garba has long been a tradition because of their South Asian background. But for other student body members,, Garba is a new tradition that allows them to learn more about the culture of the 43.4% of Indian students at IHS, a statistic according to US News and World Report.
Ava Mokhtari-Fard, a senior at IHS from Iran says “learning more about Indian traditions through Garba allows [her] to embrace the culture and traditions of [her] friends.”
Whether Garba is a moment for students to embrace their own culture or a learning experience for those who have not experienced the festival before, Garba has different meanings for every participant. There is one more opportunity to attend Garba at the Frisco Flyers Center this year on Oct 21. For more details on how to attend, you can visit www.dfwgujaratisamaj.org.
