← Back
Article image
📰 News ⏱ 2 min

How Navratri and Dussehra Bring Communities Together Worldwide

Garba, a traditional circle dance from Gujarat, is performed by Indian communities across continents during Navratri.

🔑

Key Points

6 points
1

Garba brings together dancers, musicians, and artisans, creating inclusive community gatherings.

2

Community councils in cities like Leicester work with local authorities to support the festivals.

3

Temples in Virginia and Dallas organize multiple Garba evenings with professional singers from India.

4

In Canada, cities such as Greater Sudbury and Barrie feature Garba and Dandiya events for all ages.

5

The Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago stages Ramleela performances, reenacting the Ramayana story for audiences.

6

These celebrations preserve cultural heritage while encouraging intercultural exchange and friendship.

📖

Summary

Navratri honors the goddess Durga, while Dussehra, also called Vijayadashami, commemorates the triumph of good over evil in the Ramayana epic.

In countries such as the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Nepal, Singapore, and Trinidad and Tobago, temples and cultural organisations host free events that combine music, dance, and storytelling.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization added Garba to its Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2023, highlighting its role in fostering social bonds.

📘

New Words to Learn

5 words
intangible cultural heritage
traditions, songs, dances, or knowledge that are important to a culture but cannot be touched
Vijayadashami
the name for Dussehra that means the day of victory
Ramayana
an ancient Indian epic story about the hero Rama
multicultural
involving many different cultural groups
heritage
the customs and traditions passed down from previous generations
🔗 Read Full Article →

Want to learn even more? Click here to read the full story!

🔊 Reading Article
Kid-friendly voice
🏆

New Badge Unlocked!

Badge Name
Badge description