SOUTH BRUNSWICK — The Indo- American Cultural Foundation of Central Jersey (IACFNJ) will attempt to capture the celebratory atmosphere of the nine-day Navratri Garba, familiar to those living in India, during their four nights of festivities next month.
On Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 at Crossroads South Middle School and Oct. 7 and 8 at South Brunswick High School, Hindus and area residents will join in song and dance at the Garba celebration. The organization has held the Garba in South Brunswick for close to 10 years, and IACFNJ treasurer Mac Shah said they expect approximately 1,200 people to attend each night.
In India, Garba is a Navratri, a nine-day festival, and Shah said he wants to reproduce that mood in the school gymnasiums for all those who have never experienced it firsthand.
“Most of the second and third Indian generations in the U.S. don’t know how it is celebrated in India, so by doing this here, they come to know what it’s all about and how it’s traditionally celebrated.”
During the four nights, the gymnasium will be decorated with Goddess Amba Maa’s statue with flowers and other decorations. The celebrations will include music and live singing by Mahesh Mehta and his singing group of Entertainment Unlimited.
“They have been the live band for four years, and the music is outstanding,” Shah said. “People will love it.”
Throughout the nights, traditional dances, such as garba, dandiya raas and the Gujarati Sanedo dance, will be performed, along with the GoddessAmbaMaa’sAarti.
Shah said attendees will also learn the religious and cultural significance of the event. The celebration serves to worship goddesses Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. In particular, it commemorates Goddess Durga’s destruction of all the evil propensities lurking in the minds of her devotees, Goddess Lakshmi’s implantation of divine qualities in the devotees’ minds and Goddess Sarawati’s bestowing of true knowledge to her devotees, according to an IACFNJ press release.
Shah said many state and local dignitaries plan to attend the event. Among them are U.S. Rep. Rush Holt, Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein, Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula, Mayor Frank Gambatese and the township’s four council members.
Shah said the Navratri is not only a cultural celebration, but also a holiday to be enjoyed by all and he wishes to see everyone in the area take advantage of the festivities.
EBC Radio, Radio Dil, Akila Daily News, Desi Duniya Cultural Magazine, www.masalajunction.com and TV Asia are sponsoring the event.
Tickets are $7 for members, $10 for nonmembers, $5 for children ages 6 to 10, and $5 for students. The events last from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m, and food and drinks will be sold. Contact Deanna McLafferty at