Garba Celebrations

Junior Staff Writers Abi Figueroa and Charuvi Singh '25

Originating from Gujarat, India, the tradition of Garba has remained a pivotal social and religious festival to South Asian communities across the globe. Near the conclusion of A term, WPI’s South Asian Student Association (SASA) hosted WPI’s very own Garba on October 6th, 2023, consisting of music, food, and most importantly, dancing. Several Mass Academy Juniors and Seniors were spotted at this festive cultural event.

Performed during Navratri–the Hindu festival dedicated to the feminine goddess Durga–Garba is the longest largest dance festival in the world. During Garba, performers gather in circles, which represent the Hindu view of time and symbolizes how Durga remains unchained in a constantly changing environment.

When asked about her experience, Mass Academy Senior, Ashwina Bangari, stated that she enjoyed her time at the event:

“I had so much fun, and it was awesome being able to enjoy little bits of Indian culture with both Indian and non-indian friends! I loved dancing with all the WPI students and having a great time with my friends!”

What to say about the food? The lively atmosphere paired well with the refreshments, ranging from samosas to chicken. The heatness of the spice was impactful, but not overpowering. The catered food was enjoyed by many WPI and Mass Academy students, many deciding to slyly sneak back for seconds.

At last came the dance circle–the highly anticipated tradition of Garba. What started with ten people soon encompassed everyone in Alden Hall. Varying levels of dance experience could be seen, but one thing that stayed constant were the expressions of excitement on each person's face. Those who wanted to take a break from the dancing could make their way over to a lovely decorated backdrop where they could commemorate the moment with a picture.

At WPI, one of the nation’s first engineering and technology universities with a diverse student population, cultural events like these are important. They bring together people from all across the WPI community and instill the values of a culture’s customs and tradition. Kudos to WPI’s South Asian Students Association for making this exciting event come to life.

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