Navratri is a Hindu holiday that is celebrated in many different ways, but a huge part of the celebration is dancing. There are two main parts of the night: garba and raas. Both are high-energy dance forms. The way I like to describe them is as Indian line dancing. While it is a religious event, anyone can join in on the fun. The dances range from simple two-steps to much more complicated patterns. UIUC's very own ISA is hosting Garba 2018 at the ARC on November 9th, so feel free to stop by and dance a little. If nothing else, you can say you finally hit the gym this semester; you definitely won't leave without breaking a sweat!
1. Reppin' the culture
Bangles, bindis, and brown people galore, garba is the time of year when the whole community meets up to reminisce about the motherland. Don't get me wrong, I'm just as excited for pumpkin spice lattes and Halloween bangers as the next girl, but there's something magical about stepping out into the crisp midnight air after hours of dancing with your friends and family.
2. Insta-worthy outfits
That feeling when you get more than 5 likes on your Insta post... do I need to say more?
3. Making new friends
Like I said before, garba season is when all the brown people come out to play. I may not be BFFs with the people I met at garba, but I do have a few more Insta followers and Snapchat friends from it. On top of that, when you come back next year you already have a squad waiting for you.
4. Dancing the night away
Maybe its just me but I love dancing. School dances, sleepovers, school hallways, I'll be there, but nothing beats the feeling of watching a room full of people move in lines and circles with choreography of different difficulty levels and still be in perfect synchronization. And of course, there's always the one uncle do the snake dance so badly you get second-hand embarrassment. At garba, there is no such thing as good and bad dancing, just dancing until your heart is full and your soul feels light. Make sure to keep some ibuprofen on hand though because the morning after is going to be a painful one. But hey, no rainbows without rain, right?
This garba season, step out of your comfort zone. Go introduce yourself to a new group of people. Post a before and after of the night, so people can see how hard you went. And of course, take care of yourself. Stay hydrated and well-rested. Have a blast!
