From the courtyards of Gujarat to the manicured gardens of Delhi, Garba has travelled far-yet retained its heartbeat. The Sunder Nursery, a UNESCO World Heritage site, transformed into a vibrant arena of song, rhythm, and devotion as the Global Garba Festival 2025 opened to a packed crowd.
Nearly forty ambassadors from across the world graced the occasion, some dressed in the very attire that makes Garba special-ghagras stitched with glasswork, odhnis lined with zari, and kediyus alive with embroidery. Watching them step into the circle with dandiya sticks in hand was as moving as it was joyous.
The first night began with the spiritual presence of Shri Indresh Upadhyay, Founder of BhaktiPath, whose discourse on humility, service, and devotion brought a meditative depth to the festival. He reminded the gathering that Navratri is as much about inner awakening as it is about collective joy. His words prepared the stage for the dance that followed.
When Geeta Jhala and her band took over, the air shifted to rhythm. The British-Indian playback singer, whose voice has carried Gujarati folk to stages from London’s O2 Arena to California’s Staples Center, gave Delhi its most authentic Garba experience. Backed by the pounding of live dhol and harmonium, she delivered the sound of Gujarat with no compromise. From taali garba to dodhiyu, her repertoire connected audiences to tradition while keeping them moving in vibrant circles. The evening also featured the striking “Dhal Talwar Sauraya Raas” by a Porbandar community, swords clashing in choreographed unison, reminding the audience of the martial roots embedded in Gujarati culture. It was met with a thunderous ovation.
Day Two on brought the energy of music duo Salim-Sulaiman, whose names resonate far beyond Gujarat. With a career spanning two decades, they have composed for films like Chak De! India, Fashion, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, and even the FIFA World Cup anthem. Their music bridges Bollywood, folk, Sufi, and global sounds. On the Garba stage, they blended these influences, creating an experience that was both familiar and elevated, keeping the audience on its feet. Their set proved why they remain among India’s most respected and internationally recognised composers.
Today, Day Three marks the final and most promising evening of the festival. Padma Shri Ustad Anwar Khan Manganiar and his group will bring the deep, soulful traditions of Rajasthani folk and Sufi music to Delhi. Known for collaborations with maestros like Pt Ravi Shankar and Ustad Zakir Hussain, his performance is expected to be a fitting culmination of three nights dedicated to rhythm, culture, and heritage. His voice carries the desert’s haunting resonance, and tonight, as Delhi gathers under the fairy lights, the lawns of Sunder Nursery will hold the promise of one last unforgettable crescendo.
Between performances, the festival remained alive in every corner. Food counters served steaming theplas, kadhi, Surti locho, pav bhaji, and the evergreen fafda-jalebi. Stalls brimmed with Ajrakh-printed shawls, handwoven sarees, and silver jewellery, drawing diplomats and Delhiites alike. Families shopped, laughed, and ate together, their hands sticky with jalebi syrup, their feet still moving to the distant beat of dhol. The sight was remarkable: ambassadors and Delhi families dancing side by side. The careful stitches, the handwoven borders, the glass inlay on skirts-all of it glimmered under the lights. Every outfit told a story of Gujarati craft, and together, they created a kaleidoscope of colour across the lawns.
Delhi’s Culture Minister Kapil Mishra called it a historic moment: “The Global Garba is being organised at Sunder Nursery, where ambassadors of 40 countries have participated in the Global Garba. Delhi Tourism is also a partner of this event… The Delhi government is organising many programs on a large scale.” Even Yulia Aryaeva, Counsellor for Culture at the Russian Embassy, conveyed her festive greetings, joining the chorus of voices that celebrated the blending of tradition.
The Global Garba Festival 2025 opened with a sight that left everyone smiling. Guests from around the world joined the dance, dressed in embroidered ghagras and kediyus. As dandiya sticks clashed, the night carried Gujarat’s heartbeat — ‘Garba raas re, dandiya na dhun!’
