September 29th, 2024 / Edison, NJ - Dinesh Patel, one of the organizers of the Edison Expo Center Garba, performs the aarthi, a Hindu ritual involving holding a flame in front of a deity while offering prayers and hymns. The act signifies reverence and is an integral part of the evening's celebrations.
September 28th, 2024 / Edison, NJ - Attendees of the Garba take photos and video call family members in an attempt to capture the dancing and festivities in front of them and share them with others.
September 28th 2024 / Edison, NJ - Two dancers pictured at the Garba. While the dances aren't necessarily choreographed, there are baseline moves that many rehearse and incorporate. The dancers move in circles, with more experienced groups typically forming closer to the stage, while those new to the steps gather farther back in the event hall.
October 4th, 2024 / Edison, NJ - From left to right: Pooja Jhaveri, Swati Patel, Rahul Chawaria, and Mamta Parekh pose in various styles of traditional South Asian cultural attire.
September 29th, 2024 / Edison, NJ - Garba attendees gather around the Durga deity to perform the aarthi and offer prayers, a central part of the evening’s rituals. The Garba attracts thousands of participants of all ages each year, coming together in devotion and celebration.
October 4th, 2024 / Edison, NJ - From left to right, two girls help each other adjust their lenghas in the bathroom before returning to the celebration.
A group of high school boys stands outside the hall, discreetly using their electronic cigarettes outside of the dance hall.
October 4th, 2024 / Edison, NJ - From left to right: A girl stands on her phone next to a cutout of Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt, promoting an ice cream brand.
Shreya Patel and her friend sit outside the hall, engaged in conversation. Patel shared her thoughts on how teenagers and young adults engage in the event, saying, "This event happens for a few weekends, so most of us go one weekend with our family and then another weekend with our friends. It’s really social, like ‘homecoming’ for Indian kids."
September 29th 2024 / Edison, NJ - From left to right: A high school couple sneaks out of the hall in the middle of the event.
Two girls film a TikTok dance outside the event.
September 29th 2024 / Edison, NJ - A close-up of one of the band members playing the keyboard, providing live music for the Garba dancers.
October 4th, 2024 / Edison, NJ - From left to right, one of the Vatan employees reaches for a samosa, a popular South Asian snack food.
A Vatan employee prepares a vada pav sandwich, one of the many traditional dishes available at the event. Vatan was among several vendors present at the event with other vendors also offering clothing, jewelry, drinks, and more.
September 28th, 2024 / Edison, NJ - Two women dance at the Garba.
September 29th, 2024 / Edison, NJ - Behind the stage, there are multiple monitors, sound boards, and control systems that are used to ensure the event runs and gets recorded smoothly. Nearly 100 people, including lighting technicians, stagehands, videographers, audio engineers, and security staff, contribute to organizing and managing the celebration.
October 4th, 2024 / Edison, NJ - A close up of the offerings, which include floral arrangements and sweets, that were made during the Aarti.
September 28th, 2024 / Edison, NJ - Two girls take a break from dancing as one whispers something in the other's ear.
September 29th, 2024 / Edison, NJ - A pile of shoes by the wall of the event center. It is customary to remove shoes before entering the hall as a sign of respect to the gods being celebrated.