Groove to the garba

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The ghagra-cholis and kedias are a blaze of colour; the silver jewellery dazzles as dandiya raas hits fever pitch in the capital. Along with the music of the sticks, the musical tracks are injecting verve and pizzazz into the dancer’s movements. The Navratri season is on and Delhi’s youth is enjoying the dandiya spirit.

Backless cholis, halter blouses and spaghetti straps are trending amongst the city youth this year. Delhi-based Gujarati youngster Khyati Kantawala says, “For dandiya nights, I love wearing something that is not overtly ethnic, but at the same time has a contemporary touch to it. This time I decided to team up my mother’s traditional chaniya choli with my own silver jewellery and glittering choli.”
Another youngster Nimish Desai adds, “Romance and dandiya go hand in hand. I suggest youngsters to try and be near your crush and if the chance comes, dance along with him/her. Alternatively, you can show your skills with the dandiyas and catch the attention of the pretty girl you fancy.”
Aditi Doshi, another youngster, complains of the deadlines imposed by parents during the Navratri season. She says, “Parents are worried about their young girls dressed in backless, sexy blouses. So, me and my friends have deadline hours that are dampening the fun.”
Celebrating the auspicious occasion of Navratri, capital’s clubs, discs and residential colonies are hosting their own Dandiya bashes. Gujarati Apartments, Gujarat Vihar, Gujarati Club are the popular hotspots of the traditional raas lovers in Delhi.
Adventure Island in Rohini has organised Dandiya Fun Utsav night. “We are serving free drinks for visitors. Dandiya accessories likes dresses, sticks, jewellery are available at the venue itself,” says Lipika Kapil, one of the organisers of the event.
Deepika Itkan, organiser of Dandiya Night Festival, at Worlds of Wonder, Noida says, “We have organised dancing nights featuring Shibani Kashyap, Vipin Aneja and Vidhi to enthrall the audience with a power-packed punch of Bollywood tadka and classical melody. To add to the fun and frolic, there will be fire dance, Kalbeliya dance and belly dancing.”
The staple Dandiya songs like Pankhida, Dholi taro, Aaj Radha ko Shyam yaad aa gaya, Radha kaise na jale, Chunri chunri, are being mixed with latest floor-scorching songs like Cocktail mash up, Disco deewane, Son of Sardaar, Desi Boyz and more. Some popular English tracks such as Oopa Gangnam style, Tonight’s gonna be a good night, and Don’t stop the party have made inroads into “disco dandiya”.