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Garba in the Gardens

  • Yerba Buena Gardens Mission Street between 3rd & 4th Sts. San Francisco, CA United States (map)

When people in the northwestern Indian state of Gujarat want to celebrate, the ecstatic dance tradition known as garba often provides the fuel. An essential component of wedding celebrations and the nine-day fall Hindu festival Navratri, garba is an intoxicating, high-energy folk style marked by hand claps and twirls. Danced in a circle (reflecting the cyclical Hindu conception of time), garba steps can be simple or intricate. Produced by MELA Arts Connect as part of Garba360, Garba in the Gardens opens with a dance workshop by Pooja Mehta to teach garba, sanedo, and other Gujarati folk dances before Bay Area duo of Madhvi and Asim Mehta, who have released several acclaimed albums focusing on garba, lead the celebration. Feel free to wear a long, flared skirt, kurta top, or other Indian clothing.

Later Event: May 19
Aladdin!