Mangaluru: What began as a gathering of four college friends has blossomed into a close-knit community of 15 households and 58 members, including women and children, keeping Gujarati traditions alive in Mangaluru for 35 years. Known as the Wonder Parivar, the group has built a legacy of friendship, family bonding and cultural celebrations over three and a half decades.The group initially called themselves the ‘Wonder Boys’ when they met to play gully cricket on the streets. As the friends progressed in their careers, got married and raised families, their bond grew stronger. With wives and children becoming part of their gatherings and festivities, the group evolved into the Wonder Parivar.“As our families grew, women and children joined the celebrations, we officially evolved into the Wonder Parivar, ensuring our strong friendship transformed into a lifelong community,” shared a key founding member.Marking the milestone, the community recently organised Rangilo Raas, a Garba and Dandiya celebration that brought together over 500 participants. Open to the public, the event drew people from all walks of life, including visitors from Keralam and Hyderabad.“Our vision was to open our doors to the wider society and let everyone experience a purely traditional celebration with strong community vibes,” noted a key organiser. The venue came alive with the beats of traditional Gujarati music as children, women and men joined the dance floor for Garba and Dandiya. Adding to the festive atmosphere, participants also queued up for traditional temporary tattoos before joining the celebrations.Food was another major attraction, with homemade Gujarati delicacies drawing crowds to the stalls. The spread included Farali Chewda, Mangroli, Dahi Kothmir, Matth Masala, Dhoklas, Khandvis, Handvo, Dabeli and Papdi Chat, along with familiar favourites such as Thepla and Aloo Sabzi.“Seeing people from all walks of life embracing our culture, dancing together of all ages, and enjoying our homemade food is the greatest reward for our 35-year journey,” expressed another senior member.“We wanted to bring authentic Navratri Garba and Dandiya back to Mangaluru, where such celebrations have been missing for the past two decades. We also wanted to give the public a taste of authentic Gujarati cuisine,” said Harniish Raj, a member of Wonder Parivar.
