The beats of dhol and spirited garba tunes turned a Hanoi hotel into a slice of Gujarat on Saturday night, as Indians in Vietnam came together to celebrate Navratri. Though the Indian community in Hanoi is small, the annual Shubh Navratri Dandiya Night draws hundreds of revellers. Organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce and co-hosted by Indian Cultural Diaspora-Bharat Sangam, the event offers expatriates a chance to celebrate traditions and build connections far from home.“It’s a wonderful occasion to bond with others and celebrate our festival even while living in a foreign land. Last year, I joined the garba and met many fellow Indians, especially Gujaratis. Each year, we look forward to celebrating Navratri, even if it is just for one night,” said Ananya Mehta, a senior lecturer at RMIT University. A native of Vadodara, Mehta moved to Vietnam two years ago.A DJ flown in from Mumbai sets the mood with Gujarati folk favourites and popular garba numbers. Dressed in traditional finery, participants dance in circles as Vietnamese residents and people of other nationalities join the festivities. For many attendees, the celebration is also a chance to build friendships and introduce Vietnamese neighbours to Indian culture.“We started celebrating garba in 2011 in Hanoi with just 20 people. Today, more than 250 people join us for garba. It has also become popular among Vietnamese friends and people of other nationalities, making it a true cultural exchange. It also creates a home-away-from-home feeling,” said organiser Nitika Malik.
