UNC Sangam and Tar Heel Raas team up to host First Annual Garba Event

Garba, a traditional Indian celebration and folk dance, is making its way to campus on Oct. 11 at 8 p.m. in Rams Head Recreation Center. 

UNC junior and member of The Tar Heel Raas dance team Nirbhay Sutaria said the event celebrates good over evil.

Originating from the state of Gujarat in India, the dance is packed with culture, history and tradition, Sutaria said.

Heavily influenced by Raas, a specific style of Indian dance, Garba involves dancing in a circle with dandiyas — short wooden sticks covered in colorful designs — with friends and family, said Samir Patel, the cultural chair for UNC Sangam.

The dance is a yearly tradition and part of the greater Indian holiday of Navaratri. 

After several years of rotating with Duke and N.C. State, UNC Sangam and Tar Heel Raas decided it was time for the University to have its own annual celebration.

Tar Heel Garba marks the start of the tradition at UNC and is an important moment for culture and diversity at the University, said Abhinav Gadudasu, a first-year on the UNC Raas team.

Tar Heel Raas and UNC Sangam, a club dedicated to promoting South Asian culture, have been working for months on the event. Whether it was making Dandiya’s, setting up speakers or practicing their dance moves, everyone involved has worked together to put on the celebration. 

“It is definitely something unlike anything else on campus, it’s a really unique opportunity to learn something and try something new," said Kerina Patel, a member of UNC’s Tar Heel Raas dance team.

More than just a fun night with friends, there is a deep cultural importance in an event like Garba, Sutaria said.

“As Indian college students in America, it’s hard to stay in touch with your culture," Sutaria said. "But having an event on campus where we can all go back to do the days of our youth helps us stay in touch with our culture." 

Patel said he has been going to Garbas in Charlotte since he was a little kid.

"Those were the times I got to spend with my family and friends and cousins," Patel said. "It’s a form of unity where everyone comes together." 

Patel said hosting an event like this is a major step in continuing to embrace his culture. 

“Raas and its events is another way for me to stay in tune with my culture," Gadudasu said. "I really value having a piece of home at UNC and Raas has allowed me to do that."

Despite the event being rich with culture and history, Tar Heel Garba will be open for anyone to join.

“I don’t have a lot of experience with Garba, but I’m excited to get started," Gadudasu said. "I have faith in the Raas team to put on a great event.” 

Patel said everyone is welcome to join, as the steps are simple, repetitive and easy to pick up on. 

With more than 150 people planning to attend, the event not only celebrates Indian culture on campus, but also promotes diversity and cultural awareness. 

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