“This is our culture and these events bring people together.” - Rohit Patel, chairman of the DIS Committee.
On Saturday the 5th of October, the Dacorum Indian Society Committee hosted its first of four Navratri celebrations for 2024.
Navratri (or Durga Puja) is an annual Hindu celebration, which took place from the 3rd-12th October this year, to honour the Hindu deity of Divinity and the Supreme Goddess, the goddess Durga.
The 9 days are to show devotion to the 9 avatars of Maa Durga which are Maa Shailputri, Maa Brahmacharini, Maa Chandraghanta, Maa Kushmanda, Maa Skandamata, Maa Katyayani, Maa Kalaratri, Maa Mahagauri, and Maa Siddhidatri. The festival also symbolises the triumphant victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura, whereby good overpowered evil and righteousness was re-established in the universe.
Each day of Navratri is also associated with a colour, which in order is: yellow, green, grey, orange, white, red, blue, pink and then purple and some devotees believe this will bring good luck.
Navratri is celebrated in various ways with rituals, processions, fasting and even traditional dancing called Garba, which originates from Gujarat, India.
On 5th of October at the Hemel Hempstead School, the hall housed the Navratri celebrations by performing Garba. The room was packed, the atmosphere was electric, and music echoed through the room, the beats being felt in the floorboards and into your feet. Though it started off slow, the pace gradually picked up, and before you know it, everybody was spinning, the three rings forming around the image of the gods; the fastest being in the middle and the slowest being on the outside, ideal for beginners. Then Dandiya came along, everybody eager to grab their Dandiyas (dancing sticks) and start dancing, tapping their Dandiyas together on the beat! Aarti was the last thing to take place, in turn commencing the ending of the evening.
The DIS committee also hosts numerous competitions to get people involved in eg. childrens best dress boy & girl, children's best dance competition, adult best dance competition and an Aarti competition!
I have attended this yearly since my childhood and dressing up in vibrant traditional clothing always gives me a sense of euphoria, knowing that I will have a fabulous day of dance and fun. Spinning in circles, clapping my hands and watching the reflections from the mirrors of my skirt prance around the floor in time with the beat is an indescribable feeling. I also remember being extremely competitive when I was younger in trying to win the competitions! I have matured since then (though that doesn’t stop me from getting involved in the adult competitions) and that can be seen in my dancing from the outer circle to the centre circle! That's why I was so excited when my friends accepted my invitation to come with me! Kari and Aanya both came dressed in their Garba outfits and they found it brilliant! “I’m so glad I came - it was so fun!”
They did amazing especially since this was their first time - I even taught them some of the middle circle dances!
Rohit Patel, the chairman of the DIS committee, organises this event every year and I was so glad I had the opportunity to interview him.
He stated that the two main things to consider when planning the Navratri celebrations are live music and venue, and since it is such a big event and venues having limited availability, they have to book the place from between 6 months to a year prior! “We usually do it at Hemel School, but other places we have considered before are Hemel Sportspace hall and the halls in other local schools” “Then we have to consider music: whether we want live singers who come in and perform, or we get a DJ and play the tracks.” One last thing that they have to keep in mind is which weekends to host. “In India, they celebrate all 9 days, but that is quite difficult to do here so we celebrate it on the weekends, and that's why we host the garba celebrations on either Saturday or Sunday”.
I asked him what his vision was for the committee and how he aims to accomplish it. “The main aim of the DIS Committee is to continue promoting Indian culture within generations. For example, you yourself are a second generation … So how would you ever know these holidays and celebrations?! And the kids! We need to make sure that they stay attached to the culture. The way that we do this is through promoting and doing festivals and cultural activities here in Dacorum.”
“I believe that my leadership style is based on teamwork. And also to recognise that it’s never one person's job so you have to make sure that everybody is appreciated … Also to stay selfless … and recognise when you have made a mistake so you can learn from that lesson.” “Everyone in the DIS Committee is a volunteer, all of them are volunteers! Therefore we have to allow them to come up with ideas and we help them execute it.”
He mentions that his biggest challenge is people raising concerns and having such a fixed mindset that they cannot see the bigger picture, and also to silence critics in a fair manner. To resolve this they have face to face meetings where people can voice their thoughts and come together to find a solution or a way around it. “People complain about, for example, having to pay a non-member fee however we give them the opportunity to join the committee, but if they dont join after around 4 weeks or more and they still complain, we can show them the evidence of us contacting them numerous times to remind them, and therefore prove that there is nothing to complain about. It’s difficult though … The biggest thing is that we stay united.” Another big issue is people leaving the committee as “it is hard to find people to stay long term” so they have to go around finding and recruiting new volunteers for the committee. This links to his top priority of the year to rebuild the committee after people have left, but also to continue the events on a bigger scale, avoiding cancellations due to lack of participation. “Last year for Diwali we had kids come on stage talking about Diwali and why we celebrate it, and everybody was listening. It was so nice.”
“We receive feedback from our events whether that be in person, by email, WhatsApp, whatever method of contact they choose and we take onboard all, sensible, ones and work to improve … the Committee is all voluntary so that means people are willing and keen to listen and learn.”
Patel’s biggest accomplishment was the celebration of 50 years of Ugandan Asians in the UK in 2022 where they hosted an exhibition in the Marlowes and also a “Dinner and Dance”. It depicted the story of Ugandan Asians settling in the town 50 years ago and their story continuing to the present of 2022. “200+ people! And there was so much money raised for charity!”
On the calendar, one can see all the events that the DIS Committee hosts, for example Holi celebrations, a seaside trip, temples trip and a sports and picnic day. “Also, on the 2nd of November, this Saturday!, we are hosting a Diwali and Jalaram Jayanti!”
Gratefully garba is an annual event so I can look forward to next year's processions, and if this interests you, maybe you can come along too, or even come to this year's Diwali celebrations!
