Navaratri 2014 - A Dance Festival

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Sat 11 Oct 2014

A huge country with a dazzling array of cultural traditions, India is the home of some of the world's biggest, best and most colourful festivals. Navaratri, a wonderful celebration dedicated to Goddess Shakti, is one of the country's most popular festivals with tens of thousands of celebrations taking place all around the country, and further afield. Traditionally, people of all ages would gather at a public place after dinner, adorned in their most opulent finery, and engage in lively circle dances, accompanied by expert musicians - a cultural practice that is still enthusiastically adhered to throughout the world.



Perth's biggest and most colourful Navaratri festival is held annually by the Gujarati Samaj of Western Australia at the Herb Graham Recreation Centre in Mirrabooka. Extending over four evenings (Friday 3rd, Saturday 4th, Friday 10th and Saturday 11th October, from 7pm until around midnight), it's an opportunity for people of all ages and backgrounds to gather together and dance, as people have done for centuries, accompanied by some of the best traditional Indian music in Perth.



Popular local music group, Swashraya, will be performing throughout the festival while special guest Krishnadas Nayak, a singer, composer and musical director from Ahmedabad, will be visiting on the 3rd and 4th. If you're not familiar with the steps, no worries. At this family-friendly festival, more experienced dancers will be more than happy to help you 'find your feet' so you can fully participate. Along with the music and dance, an added attraction on the 4th of October will be a maha-arati, or offering of 151 lamps at 9.00pm - a unique feature of every Navaratri festival. If you're hungry, there will be stalls purveying a delectable assortment of Indian specialties and other refreshments.


In a nutshell, this year's Navatratri festival at the Herb Graham Recreation Centre is gearing up to be a unforgettable evening of vibrant music and dance. Now in its tenth year, it's a wonderful evening of music and celebration that will sure to please, whether you're eight or eighty-five. Please note, however, that as a family event, the festival is alcohol and smoke free.
Entry for this year's Navaratri festival is $5.00 for GSWA and SKLPC members and $8.00 for non-members, if tickets are pre-booked. Tickets purchased at the door are $10.00, with children under five years free of charge. To find out more, go to the Gujarati Samaj of Western Australia website , send an email to [email protected] or phone 0448 791 436.

#october
#child_friendly
#community_events
#cultural_events
#dancing
#family_attractions
#festivals
#greater_perth
#indian_restaurants
#mirrabooka
#music
!date 11/10/2014 -- 11/10/2014
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