My First Garba And Dandiya Night: From Finding The Venue To Dancing And Food

My first-ever experience of Garba and Dandiya night was truly wholesome and one of a kind. Being a Delhiite, I had heard so much about these cultural celebrations that I always wanted to be a part of them. The Navratri vibe is an altogether different experience, and nothing could have prepared me for the energy I felt the moment I stepped into the event. From everyone being adorned in vibrant, intricate mirror-design outfits, long queues at the entrance and slightly over-budget food to the vibe, the dance floor, and the happy faces, every part of this night was worth experiencing.

The Excitement Of Experiencing Garba For The First Time

Taking my friends along was the best decision of the night. We found an event through a quick Google search, booked tickets, and went by a cab to avoid the metro rush. Even before entering the venue, I could hear the beats of the dhol and see people in dazzling outfits heading toward the gates. I felt my own excitement multiply.

While we were completely prepared for a night of endless dance and food with our dandiya sticks in our backpacks, we were surprisingly informed that we are not allowed to take our Dandiyas, food items or water bottles along and will find everything inside the venue.

Synopsis My First Dandiya Night (Image Credit: Ridam Sharma) 

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Immersed In The Energy Of Dance And Togetherness

As I stepped into this world, the energy hit me like a wave. On one side, a huge stage hosted performances, and on the other side, the dance floor was a sea of people moving in circles. At first, I stood frozen at the edge and took it all in, unsure if I could keep up. But then someone laughed, pulled me into the line, and suddenly I was part of the impromptu garba dance, clapping, spinning, and missing steps but not caring at all. The beauty was in the chaos, the togetherness, the sheer joy of dancing without judgment, as if no one was looking.

What I Wore For My First Garba And Dandiya Night?

Traditional clothing, especially a lightweight lehenga, works best at a Dandiya night, and that's exactly what I opted to wear. Taking inspiration from Pinterest, I decided to don a green shimmery yet comfortable skirt with lightweight fabric, a matching dupatta and a peplum yellow printed choli. Most men wore kurta-pyjamas or Kurtas with oversized jeans or cargos. Additionally, one lesson I learned was to wear comfortable shoes, because the dancing doesn’t stop.

My First Garba Night (Image Credit: Ridam Sharma)

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Of course, no festival is complete without food. Between dances, I treated myself to the various delicacies all the pandals were offering to charge myself for more dancing. The flavours, the chatter, the fairy lights overhead, it all felt like Delhi had transformed into a little Gujarat for the night.