Foreigners dance to Garba tune in Indore

Dozens of foreigners performed the traditional Indian folk dance Garba in Indore city during the ongoing Navratri festival.

Indore (MP), Oct 20 : Dozens of foreigners performed the traditional Indian folk dance Garba in Indore city during the ongoing 'Navratri' festival.

More than 50 foreign tourists participated in the 'dandiya dance' or the traditional dance with sticks.

The colourful dance form, the beautiful costumes and foot tapping music enthralled the foreigners, who were visibly excited and happy.

"It is amazing. It is so nice and the costumes are the best. Like when we danced in South Africa, we did not have extravagant and colourful costumes like these and I felt like an Indian princess wearing them; it is very interesting and I have learnt a few steps," said Mary, a South African tourist.

The visiting foreigners could not stay untouched by the ongoing festive fervour across the country and participated with zest in the traditional celebrations.

"I enjoyed it a lot. I tried my best but sometimes I got the beat wrong but it was lots of fun. I like dandiya very much and the colours, the clothes and the different culture," added James, another South African tourist.

The foreigners danced till the wee hours on Friday night and wanted to come back next year for the puja celebrations again.

'Dandiya' and 'Garba', traditional dance forms of India are a special attraction of the 'Durga Puja' celebrations.

The dancers usually wear colourful, traditional outfits and dance the Garba to foot tapping music. And then there is the clash of 'dandiya' sticks to the beats of the music.

The 'Navratri' festival, which literally means 'nine nights', is celebrated twice a year. It is believed that the festival is in honour of the nine manifestations of Hindu goddess Durga and falls in the months of April-May and September-October.

According to the Hindu almanac, the commencement of 'Navratri' marks the conclusion of 'Pitr Paksha' or the fortnight of ancestors and heralds 'Devi Paksha' or the fortnight-long festival of Hindu goddess Durga.

ANI