Indian festival spices up So. Brunswick nightlife
Navratri celebration shares culture, tradition with new generations
BY CHRIS MURINO Staff Writer

Nayan Jethra (r), of Franklin Park, and Niharika Dalal, New Brunswick, dance at the Navratri festival held at South Brunswick High School on Sunday.

SOUTH BRUNSWICK - The local Indian community came to the township high school in full force this weekend to celebrate Navratri, a holy festival of Hinduism.

Saturday night generated the best turnout in the four years the festival has been celebrated in South Brunswick, with about 2,000 people attending. Sunday night drew significantly fewer people, but it was still a fun time to be had by all.

People of all ages took part in the traditional dances of garba and dandia, while a statue of the Durga stood at the center of the auditorium.

The Durga is the god that is worshiped during Navratri, which literally means "nine nights."

"Here, because of other commitments, we just do it on the weekends," said Mahesh "Mac" Shah, president of the Indo- American Cultural Foundation of Central New Jersey.

Many of those at the event said it was important to teach children about their culture.

PHOTOS BY SCOTT FRIEDMAN Rupal Patel, of Monmouth Junction, performs a traditional Indian dance at the festival.

"We have to promote Indian culture, get the kids involved," Tushar Patel said.

"Kids were dancing from 8:30 [p.m.] to 1 in the morning," said Sanjay Dhruv. "It was nonstop. It's good to see the kids getting into the traditions."

Some came for religious and cultural reasons, while others just came to have a good time.

"We just come here to dance," Anil Patel said. By dancing, she said, she pleases the gods as well.

Rupal Patel, coming for the first time to South Brunswick's Navratri festival, brought her young children and called it a definite success.

"It's so colorful, the music is so nice," Rupal said. "I like to have everything scheduled, and they started everything on time. And the crowd is very good. You don't see those hooligans."

A variety of traditional Indian foods were also served during the two nights. On the menu were papdinolot (a spicy dish made with rice flour), samosa, khaman and fafda.

The band for the evening, Moksha Entertainment, appeared at the festival for the second straight year. It featured male and female singers and a variety of traditional Indian instruments.

This is the fourth year Navratri has been held in South Brunswick. For 11 years before that, it was held in North Brunswick.