By Pam Kiriakidis
The nine-day Hindu festival Navratri is about to come alive in South Morang, celebrating with a night of Garba dancing and tradition on October 1.
Navratri is a period of nine days to honour Hindu mother goddess Mahadevi, who symbolises the divine feminine.
Various regions of India celebrate the annual event differently through religious ceremonies and Garba dance, which is traditionally performed around a lit lamp or a picture or statue of the goddess.
Mernda and District Residents Association, MADRA, invited Sanskriti Junction to perform two dances – a women’s performance and a children’s performance – during the celebration.
Traditionally the nine-day festival is danced to the beat of an Indian dhol drum, however, on the night a hired DJ will play traditional Indian music instead.
MADRA secretary Shweta Bhatti said the combined event ‘Vivid Navratri’ was organised to help the local Indian community feel at home, as it was a special time in Indian culture.
“When we are from another country, we miss our culture and sometimes we feel isolated, so this kind of community event gives them an environment where they don’t feel isolated and they don’t miss too much of their country,” she said.
“There is no age barrier, so every person there generally knows how to do the steps and dance, so every age – grandparents and grandchildren, everybody will be participating.”
MADRA received a grant of $1500 from the City of Whittlesea to host the event, which will be at Plenty Ranges Art and Convention Centre.
Food and drink will be provided by local food vendors, with a donation encouraged.
The celebration will start at 7:30pm and end at 11pm at 35 Ferres Boulevard, South Morang.
