Sunday night, over 140 students and community members adorned in colorful traditional dresses and attire gathered in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union to celebrate a night of dancing and food. 

Dandiya Night was hosted by the Indian Students Association, in celebration of the Indian festival of Navaratri. Navaratri is a nine night, or ten day, festival that is celebrated every year in the western part of India.

“It is a celebration of the victory of goddess over the demons and we celebrate it though the dance forms of Dandiya and Garba,” said Mehul Shinde, president of the Indian Students Association.

At the beginning of the night, attendees were taught the basic steps of two different dance forms, Dandiya and Garba.

Dandiya is a traditional dance form that utilizes a pair of colorful sticks, dandiyas. Students formed two circles with one facing out and one facing in, and circled around each other with intricate hits of each other’s dandiyas.

Garba is a type of dance that is done in a circular pattern with side to side steps and clapping.

These forms of dance are traditionally done to Gujarati music.

“Gujarati is a state in India where this festival is very popular,” Shinde said.

Students and members of the community came from all different backgrounds to join in the festivities.

“I’m Hindu, and I’ve never been to this Dandiya dance so I’m interested,” said Barsha Budhathoki, junior in pre-graphic design.

Many of the other students had never experienced Dandiya, but were there for the food, music and culture.

After a few hours of dancing, students are served traditional Indian food. Vegetarian options are essential to the celebration of Navaratri.

“We are not supposed to serve meat during these nine days, they are to eat pure vegetarian food,” said Harsheev Desai, food coordinator of the Indian Students Association.

The items served were a curry made of traditional Indian spices and cubed cottage cheese served with naan and rice kheer, a rice based sweet dish. 

After the food was served, the students danced to Bollywood music, so those who were not familiar with Gujarati music can enjoy the event.

“Since we are away from home, everyone gets together and celebrates it,” Desai said.

The 2017 Festival of Navaratri started September 21st and ended the 30th.