Times Square, New York - December 7, 2023 - FIA NY-NJ-CT-NE along with support from a host of community organizations and Consulate General of India NY, held a commemorative garba celebration at the 'Crossroads of the world', - Times Square. The celebration marked the recent inclusion of Garba as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Garba, considered to be among the oldest forms of group dance and the longest dance festival spanning 9 nights (Navratri) is a very popular group folk dance form in key states of India including Gujarat, Maharastra, and Rajasthan. It has gained sensational liking among the overseas Indian diaspora in countries like the UAE (Dubai), USA, UK, Australia, Canada, and many others. This historic prestigious and distinguished milestone Tag of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity was announced during UNESCO's 18th session in Kasane, Botswana on December 6th, 2023.
The leading organization for this initiative, the Federation of Indian Associations NY-NJ-CT-NE (FIA) extended an open invitation to the entire Indian American community to join in this momentous celebration at Times Square, NYC which was supported by the Consulate General of India NY. Free transportation, complimentary refreshments, and participation certificates shall be provided for all performing attendees. The event was a spectacular showcase of the rich cultural heritage of Gujarat as attendees donned traditional Garba attires. The vivid colors and intricate designs of their attire were a sight to behold, and one could feel the energy and pride emanating from them as they represented their culture on a global platform. The atmosphere was electric with excitement and anticipation, and it was clear that everyone was thoroughly enjoying themselves.
In addition to the Federation of Indian Associations NY-NJ-CT-NE, the event was made possible through the support and collaboration of esteemed partner organizations, including the Consulate General of India, New York, GANA, BJANA, Siddhivinayak Temple USA, Times Group, Aaj Tak, The Indian Panorama, EBC Radio, The South Asian Times, AUM Dance Academy, Parikh WorldWide media, TV Asia, ITV gold, World BB TV, New India Abroad, The Indian Eye, Radio Zindagi, and Radio Dil.