KARAMSAD, INDIA, September 23, 2006: Every afternoon after classes, the grounds of the Swaminarayan Vidyapeeth come alive with color and music at the special Garba rehearsal sessions. More than half the girls here are Non Resident Indians (NRIs). Lisha Hira’s parents settled in California when she was just a child. But now she’s back to get an Indian education and celebrate her first Navratri in India. “I did know the dance in America, but not that well. I learned a lot more when I came here. It is difficult though, the steps that I’ve learned,” says Lisha. “In Oregon, they never knew what Navratri means. But I’m really glad to celebrate it here today. I learned the dance here,” adds Puja Patel, a student from Oregon. There is a huge Gujarati population in the USA. So girls like Lisha and Puja have not worn a ghagra choli or tried to dance the Garba for the first time. But NRI or Indian, a good dancer or someone just learning the moves, to experience Navratri in Gujarat–something they had just heard of so far from their expatriate parents–is something quite special for these girls. “Here it’s special because it is our own country. Our own festival is celebrated together with our own people,” observes Kinjal Patel, a student from Kuwait.
A daily summary of world news for Hindus and non-Hindus alike