Where to take the kids for Navratri - Kiddie Garba's!
Garba is a form of dance which originated in the state of Gujarat in India. The name itself is derived from the Sanskrit term Gharba (womb) and Deep (a small earthenware lamp). Tradition has it that garbas are performed around a centrally lit lamp or a picture or a statue of the Goddess Shakti, although a lot of people have Mataji too. It is performed during the 9 day Hindu festival 'Navratri'.
There are often garbas that are held in the afternoon for ladies or more generally these are at night at various places throughout the UK.
As a very small child I remember getting dressed up in Kenya (birth place of my parents not mine but stayed there for 7 years), me and my cousin arguing over wanting the same chaniya choli (traditional garba dress) and painting our nails, putting on mother's make up and going to the temple for garba. Kisumu was a very small town so there was only one place to go to but it was so much fun! In fact Navratri is the whole reason I am here today. So when my mum who was 15 at the time and Dad who was 19 were madly in love with each other and they had to get engaged after one fine day at garba when it was announced that my mother has won the best dancer (female) and father in the male category and they were no where to be seen! That is how their love story came out and they were told they had to get married! (yes they started young! lol)
In this country Dad used to go out and buy season passes at the community garba. We would go every single night and pass out at midnight every day for 9 days on a school night! Again amazing fun and I did this all the way up until my late teens. The day I stopped was the day it got rowdy, tuned into a meat market, and I saw girls texting whilst playing dandiya and mobiles hanging out of their sarees! That's the day the essence of garba was lost for me, I felt disappointed and didn't go for years! However, despite my friend telling me about it a couple of years ago I never paid attention to a kids garba (I have two boys and try telling the eldest that we are going somewhere to dance in a circle, he used to grimace) but last year we all went along to the Sansaar garba and I absolutely loved it! as did my kids! I don't remember there being a lot of kids garbas back in the day but I totally understand why they do it now. Kids do not get an opportunity to experience it and some of the garbas are truly fantastic as they make it fun, traditional and teach them about garba and how to play garba all at the same time!
So! what's in this for you you may ask, well have a look below, I have picked out some top picks of kids garba's in the area....there will be a few more I will add on as not all of them have been published yet. As per usual I will give my personal opinion where I can!....Enjoy!
Sansaar
Date: Sunday 9th & 23rd October
Time: Morning 11-1.30pm or afternoon 3-5.30pm
Venue: Jewish Free School, The Mall, Kenton, HA3 9TE
Pricing: £7 adults and kids over 2 - under 2's are free
Where to buy tickets: Tickets on sale 10th September and sell out so be quick, you can buy them here: http://www.sansaar.org/
This was brilliant last year, they have characters, teachers teaching how to and a play for kids. Fun for all the family. Snacks were on offer and very reasonably priced, I would say if you can take a few drinks/snacks for the kids though.
Date: Sunday 9th October
Time: TBC
Venue: Sattavis Patidar Centre, Wembley
Pricing: TBC
Where to buy tickets: Keep an eye on https://www.facebook.com/Childrenscharitygarba
Young Lohana Society, North London
Date: Sunday 2nd October
Time: 12-3.30pm
Venue: Dhamecha Lohana Centre, Brember Road, South Harrow, HA2 8AX
Pricing: TBC
Where to buy tickets: Live to the pubic on Tuesday 6th September and registration on http://www.ylsnl.com/. You will then be sent an email requesting payment.
Bal Vihar's Children's Garba
Date: Sunday 2nd October
Time: 12-3pm
Venue: The Campion School, Wingletye Lane, Hornchurch, RM11 3BX
Pricing: Earlybird £6.50 adult or child, thereafter £8
Where to buy tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bal-vihar-childrens-garba-2016-tickets-27193126373
Bal Garba - AVDBF
Date: Saturday 8th October
Time: 2.30om-5pm (Doors open at 2pm)
Venue: Dada Darshanm Unit 2, Stonefield way, Ruilsip, HA4 0JA
Pricing: FREE!
Where to register for tickets: https://ukevents.dadabhagwan.org/gncgarba
or email: LMHT.Ruislip@uk.dadabhagwan.org
SKLPC Navratri Family Workshop
Date: Saturday 2nd October
Time: 2-6pm
Venue: West End Road, Northolt, UB5 6RE, Northolt, Slough
Pricing: FREE!
Where to register for tickets: Pre registration opens on 17th September sen@sklpc.com
https://www.facebook.com/events/484528508338313/
Where can you buy kids clothes from?
Aside from Southall where every corner you turn you can find kids clothes for garba from, I found Ealing road last year to be really good. Venisons have a myriad of stores on the street but the one near Maru Bhajiya has boys clothes upstairs (sherwani's etc) and the one opposite that has girls clothes. Plenty on offer and in the local area!
I will keep this blog post updated as information becomes available.....if anyone has any more info to share, please comment below!
