For Shanvi Srivastava, the magic of Garba began with a move to Mumbai: the hunt for the perfect festive outfit and the joy of stepping into the city’s much-loved celebrations. Recalling her childhood in Uttar Pradesh, she says Navaratri meant nine days of prayers, aarti and dressing up in a different colour each day. Her earliest glimpses of Garba came through Bollywood films, but today she loves how the dance form has travelled beyond Gujarat, bringing people together through music, movement and celebration. The actor is set to join Bangalore Times Garba Nite this weekend at Bhartiya Mall of Bengaluru, as the city prepares to dance the night away.‘We would start preparing for Garba a month in advance’“Growing up in Uttar Pradesh, Garba was not such a big thing for us. Navaratri was about nine days of puja, aarti and wearing the colours,” she says. Talking about how she was introduced to Garba nights after she moved to Mumbai, she adds, “It was in Mumbai that I discovered the excitement surrounding the festivities. We used to find out which ground the celebrations were happening at, dress up for Garba and look for the right kind of outfits. We would start preparing a month in advance.”‘Bollywood movies were my first window into Garba’ Before social media made festive fashion and dance trends accessible at the click of a button, Bollywood films offered a glimpse into traditions from different parts of the country.“Since I studied in UP, there was no direct connection with Gujarat. Back then, we didn’t have social media to get all this information. Movies were the only thing,” Shanvi says. She remembers the colourful attires, family bonds and festive atmosphere depicted in films featuring Gujarati families. “We learnt from films how to dress like them and how to move like them while doing Garba. It was beautiful,” she adds.‘Indians are everywhere and our traditions are spreading like wildfire’For Shanvi, one of the most beautiful things about Garba today is how it has travelled beyond its roots in Gujarat to become a global celebration. From community gatherings in the US to people dressing up and celebrating at workplaces and airports, the dance form has found enthusiastic audiences far beyond India. “Celebration is a dopamine hit, according to me. We all love enjoying, coming together and celebrating. We need more such reasons to be happy,” she says.She finds the growing global embrace of Indian festivals exciting. “Indian traditions and cultures have always been colourful and attractive. Now, Indians are everywhere, so it’s spreading like wildfire, and it’s beautiful. I like how the world is welcoming it,” she explains.
