A Garba dance was staged at the Lakeview Community Hall in Marathon this past Saturday night as part of the second annual Hindu Navaratri festival.
The nine-night Navratri festival is held in honour of Durga, the divine feminine goddess, who represents and promotes the glory of women and their empowerment in society. For nine nights, Hindu worshippers celebrate through music, food and traditional dancing, known as Garba, a joyful style of dance, with the participants swaying and sweeping from side to side, and clapping their hands in a joyful manner as they circle the gazebo which housed the altar containing the sacraments used in the ceremony.
The dancers and festival organizers took to the stage in colourful clothing and jewelry, but respectfully doffed their shoes at the door. Many of the women wore traditionally fashioned Sari, Chaniya Choli and Dupatta (skirts, blouses and scarves) which were intricately folded, stitched, embellished with metallic threads, colourful ribbons and glittering jewels and tiny mirrors which caught the light as they spun and twirled. Some displayed the intricate designs and patterns of henna tattoos on their hands and Bindis (red circular mark) on their foreheads. Most of the men sported Kurtas of different, but several adorned themselves in elaborate Kedyu; vivid, jewel adorned garments, the sight of which added to the Garba’s whirling display of colour and light.
During a pause in the dancing, the organizers invited the participants and audience to join them in the aarti, a ceremony of light to honour their goddess. An elaborate display of statues, candles, and food such as rice and spices, surrounded images of the deity. Incense was burned, as it is believed to purify the atmosphere and create a meditative environment, and ghee (clarified butter) soaked cotton balls were lit while prayers and songs were presented. The worshipers wafted the smoke from the ghee over their face and heads, symbolizing an offering of sacrifices for the good of others.
When the ceremony was complete, dinner was served. The delicious meal, catered by the Monsoon Restaurant in Thunder Bay, featured Shahi paneer, Tandoori roti, rice, lentil and chickpea delicacies, and other vegetarian dishes, but almost everyone agreed that their favourite was the savoury deep-fried samosas! The desserts, a sweetened wheat pudding and a syrup-soaked pastry were a welcome contrast to the exotically spiced menu items. After the shared meal, the dancers returned to the stage, and the festivities continued long into the night.
The event drew people from all over Northern Ontario to participate, watch, or both. Visitors from as far away as Brampton, Thunder Bay and Sault Ste. Marie were in attendance, as were folks from Wawa, White River, Manitouwadge and Terrace Bay. Dubreuilville Mayor Beverly Nantel and her friends got into the action, dancing, dining, and standing respectfully during the aarti.
Shruti Chavda, Yash Patel, Dwijen Bharad, and the rest of the volunteers who made this festive evening possible would like to say dhanyavaad (thank you) to their sponsors, Barrick-Hemlo, and the Township of Marathon, for sponsoring this annual event, and for the ongoing support they give to the Indian/Hindu community of Marathon.
