Schoolcraft College’s Asian Students Association will present Navratri Garba on Saturday, October 8, from 7 p.m. to midnight in the Vistatech Center. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. Children 5 and younger are free.
Navratri is a Hindu festival that takes place over nine nights. The word “Navratri” is a conjunction of the two words “nava” (meaning “nine”) and “ratri” (meaning “night”). This festival is devoted to the Mother Goddess known variously as Durga, Kali, Bhavani, Amba and Chandika.
Garba is one of the dance forms. Dandiya Raas, from the state of Gujarat, is a popular dance form as well.
Navratri customs include:
- During the nine days of Navratri, feasting and fasting take precedence over all normal daily activities among Hindu people.
- Evenings give rise to the religious dances in order to worship Goddess Durga Maa.
- Mother Goddess is seen as personification of strength, courage, knowledge, wealth, art, fertility and love.
- Water, mango leaves, rice, coconut, betel leaves, haldi, kumkum and ritual fire (aarti) all help celebrate the supreme mother and her divinity.
Photo 2: Dance is part of the celebration of Navratri Garba.
You can purchase advance tickets for Navratri Garba from:
- Schoolcraft College Student Activities Office (lower level of Vistatech Center)
- Call 734-462-4422
OR
- Taj Cottage
- 8429 Grand River Avenue, Farmington Hills, 48335
- Call Rachna Chandra, 734-620-4933
The ticket includes an Indian dinner catered by Suvai and live music by Kuldip Bhatt. Indian clothes and jewelry will be available for purchase as well.
All proceeds will go toward the Schoolcraft Student Food Pantry, a program that is dedicated to providing non-perishable food items to students and their families who are impacted by financial hardship.
Our thanks to Dr. Anna Maheshwari, Chair of the English Department, for her assistance with this story.