W+H presents first ever Garba Night

By Aastha Patel ‘23

Organizers Naischa Puri '23 and Raiya Patel'24 pose with friends and family in traditional Indian attire.

The Wardlaw + Hartridge Desi Club is presenting a garba night to the community! For the first time, the school will be hosting Garba and Diwali Night on campus, in Laidlaw Gym, on Friday, October 21 at 6 p.m. Students and guests can look forward to a night filled with plenty of traditional music, dance, and food!

Garba is a traditional Gujarati dance that celebrates honor, fertility, and womanhood. Traditionally, the dance is performed by women around a clay lantern with a light inside. Garba is especially popular during Navratri, a nine-night Hindu festival dedicated to the goddess Durga, the feminine form of divinity. The Hindu goddess Durga is best known for killing an evil demon in a battle that lasted for nine days and nine nights, hence why Navratri is celebrated for the same period of time. The dance is also performed during Diwali, the festival of lights. Filled with feasts, lights, and dance, Diwali celebrates the triumph of good over evil and inner light over spiritual darkness.

The basic formation of the dance is a circle that moves counterclockwise around an image or idol of a Hindu goddess. Dancers repeat a sequence of steps in a circle, and different circles can have different dances varying in speed and difficulty, so even newcomers can enjoy the fun! Other variations of garba include raas, which is a dance done in pairs while holding sticks called dandiya.

There are multiple ways to purchase a ticket for Garba and Diwali Night! Tickets are currently available through a pre-sale window, which is open from September 21 to October 15. A Google form was previously sent out, and the payment must be through cash or a check made out to “The W+H School.” Tickets can also be purchased at the door. For W+H students, a ticket costs $12 and students must bring their W+H School ID at the door. For family guests, tickets cost $15. Keep in mind that there is a maximum capacity, so make sure you get your tickets quickly!

The W+H Desi Club is working tirelessly to ensure that those who decide to attend have an unforgettable experience. Desi Club co-leader, Raiya Patel ‘24, said, “Students can look forward to experiencing something that is a sacred part of our culture. Regardless of experience, you can look forward to immersing yourself in a new culture and having a fun night with your friends!”