by Shilpi Agarwal (Tower10-501, 92893 34693)
What do you think of when you hear the word “dandiya?” Maybe you think of the dancers, spinning around in circles and dressed in beautifully coloured ensembles and gold and silver Jewellery. Maybe you think of the colourful sticks, colliding and clashing rhythmically. Perhaps you think of the music, harmonious strings and melodies from traditional instruments such as dholak, tabla, and dhol. You probably even think of the joy and fun you share with friends and family in the merriment.
In our close-knit community of Lotus Panache, we celebrated Navratri exactly as that and beyond. The wonderful members of our society organized a full-blown Dandiya Festival in celebration of Navratri on the 2 October, with live music, traditional dancers, and an ecstatic and energetic crowd. The show stopper was the fire performance by a professional along with traditional dance by a group. Among our residents, dandiya dance performances by Jyoti Rawat (T29/803) and Khushboo Gupta were lauded by all.
The set-up was done near the market centre and the event had a spacious area where various stalls with gorgeous dresses, dazzling Jewellery, and a variety of food, including everything from pizza to panipuri. Along with this was a stage and a dance floor for the crowd to rock.
The feel of the event embodied the spirit of Dandiya, with Bollywood and folk music playing in the background, the smell of delicious food in the area, the sound of the clashing of Dandiya sticks, and the laughter and the enjoyment of the people there.
The event was well received with the residents swarming in till midnight. From invigorating music and awesome dancing to dazzling clothing and mouth-watering food, Lotus Panache’s Dandiya Night had it all!
