Navaratri, an annual Hindu festival, is celebrated in the honor of Hindu goddess: Durga. The celebration spans over the course of nine days, and this year it will occur from Sep. 22 to Oct. 2.
To commemorate this occasion, an event is held in the Berglund Center in Roanoke. It is presented by the Indian Heritage Society, a non-profit organization that dedicates time to preserve Indian culture through various festivals and programs.
The event will take place over two weekends (four nights). It begins at 7 p.m. and ends around midnight. Entry is free for all.
As for attire, women dress in traditional and colorful Indian outfits called chaniya choli, while men wear kurta.
A significant part of Navaratri is Garba, a traditional circle dance. At Navaratri events, people gather around in a large circle around the idol of goddess Durga and dance to the rhythm of Garba music. This lasts several hours.
After the Garba festivities comes Dandiya, which is my personal favorite aspect of this festival. Dandiya, meaning “stick,” is the dance which involves the use of two sticks that dancers strike against each other. It is performed in pairs, and each pair lines up, forming a large row.
To accompany these dances, a group of professional Garba singers from India will be performing on both weekends.
Navaratri is a beautiful celebration of femininity, empowerment, and good over evil. If you are interested in learning more or have any questions, you can check out the Indian Heritage Society on Facebook!
