CHENNAI: Keerthana Iyer’s love for garba dates to the time she went on a Himalayan trek. And ended up being trapped in the region for four days. “The group had people from across the country and to entertain ourselves we would do the garba,” she says. “After I came back from the trip, I had a newfound love for garba and try to take part in the dance programmes that are held during Navratri .”For her, it is an opportunity to meet new people and also to relieve stress. “I dance my heart out during these events,” she says. Each year, garba and dandiya nights are held across the city during the nine-day festival. And it’s not just north Indians who are shaking a leg. Many south Indians are also joining the festivities, drawn by the music, dance, food and culture.Poonam Karnawat, an IT professional, conducts garba and dandiya workshops at her apartment in Perambur. She gets students of all age groups and, during Navratri, she has more people signing up for her classes, including many south Indians.“These dance forms celebrate the triumph of good over evil and south Indians are keen to learn it and also have fun,” she says. While dandiya raas is a Gujarati folk dance form that uses sticks, garba is a six-step dance form that also originated in Guajarat and is performed around clay pots, says Karnawat.Thangam Suresh, a travel vlogger, says she is a regular at dandiya nights held in Express Avenue mall.“We meet new people and learn about their tradition,” she says, adding that she is looking forward to the dandiya night at Dharmaprakash Hall this year.The nine-day event being held at Dharmaprakash Hall in Pursaiwalkam is organised by the Gujarati Youth Association. The celebrations include traditional aarti in the morning and garba and dandiya in the evening followed by DJ and zumba rounds. They also hold garba competitions and the participants include Tamilians. “Garba and dandiya are two dance forms that are colourful. South Indians love the music and the Gujarati food here,” says Hemang Rajani, a member of the association.Organisers of garba and dandiya nights in the city says that Tamilians not only enjoy the dance and music but also the traditional aspects of it. Subhajit Patra, member of Dakshin Chennai Prabasi Cultural Association (DCPCA), which is organising Durga puja in Sholinganallur, says that 30% of their total turnout are Tamilians. “It is the emotional connect, the feeling of joy and celebration that draws them. They are very interested in our culture,” he says. DCPCA is organising a DJdandiya night on October 18 from 9 pm.

Stay updated with all the Chennai Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.