I’ve covered hundreds of events since I started writing ChicpeaJC, they were all amazing and fun but they didn’t leave a long lasting impact on me like the Navatri festival did. I will explain in a little bit….

The Navatri festival “… is celebrated in the months of October and November. It is a festival of worship, dance and music celebrated over a period of nine nights.” The festival is held in the streets of India Square and attracts over 10,000 people from all over the country. There is no alcohol on premises as this is a religious event! Which was a very intriguing concept to me… People “turning up” till the wee-hours of the morning without any liquid energy.

I was told to go to the Navatri festival at around 10/11pm, which is when the party really starts. Saturday night came along and I had a decision to make, either I stay home in my PJ’s and go to sleep at my normal bed time hour (around 9:30pm) or tough it out and wait till 11pm to experience Navatri.

#YOLO

I got a ride to the festival with some friends and as soon as we approached India Square, you could see all the crowds of people and they were all dressed up and dancing in the streets. I have never seen anything like it. The energy in the air was magical, I did not feel like I was in Jersey City.

We watched everyone dance for a little while and then there was a little ceremony with the Mayor, some local politicians and people who were behind the event. I was lucky to have been invited on stage as well! We were given candles as part of a Navatri ritual. It was such a beautiful experience.

We got off the stage and it was time for a “stick” dance which is called “Dandiya Raas, Originating as devotional Garba dances, which were always performed in Durga’s honour, this dance form is actually the staging of a mock-fight between the Goddess and Mahishasura, the mighty demon-king, and is nicknamed “The Sword Dance”. During the dance, dancers energetically whirl and move their feet and arms in a complicated, choreographed manner to the tune of the music with various rhythms.”

Mayor Steven Fulop mentioned to me that this was his favorite part. He even showed me how to do it and frowned when I couldn’t get it right! It was so much fun.

I ended up leaving well after midnight… I felt so energized, at peace and zen… Happy.  It is very hard to put it into words but in some ways the Navatri festival re-balanced me and made me really appreciate all these moments I get to experience as a result of writing this blog. I am so blessed.

Everyone needs to experience this beautiful festival at some point! It is going on tonight and Saturday night in India Square.

For more information, visit http://www.indiasquare.org.