On Oct. 23rd, the Queens College Indian Student Association (QCISA) held its first Navratri event, Raas Garba Ratri, in collaboration with the QC South Asian Student Association (SASA).
The event commemorated the Hindu festival Navratri, which honors the goddess Durga and her triumph over her enemy Maahishasura, as well as the recognition of new cycles, life changes and seasons.
The event consisted of approximately forty students, including members of SASA, ISA, and students who joined to participate in the celebration.
Commencing the event, a Hindu prayer was observed following the serving of cultural food. Afterwards, ISA’s Secretary, Shivaniba Jadav, along with the Social Media representative, Krisha Mehta, performed a dance.
One of the major parts of the event was Garba – the cultural dance which is often performed during Navratri. Students partook by aligning themselves in a circle and dancing around the framed picture of Goddess Durga and offerings made to her at the beginning of the event.
The mission statement of SASA and ISA is “One Earth One Family,” signifying the unity of not only the South Asian diaspora but of all people, creating a space of unity, togetherness, cultural appreciation, and family.
According to ISA’s president, Aaryan Mittu, “being president and co-founder of the Indian Student Association, it means carrying forward a vision that celebrates culture, connection, and community.”
“When I first started ISA, my goal was to create a space where South Asian students could feel seen, valued and proud of who they are. Today, it has become a platform for unity where we share our traditions, build friendships and bring the larger QC community together. To me, being aligned with this role means leading with purpose, inclusivity and heart.”
Mittu continued, commenting on the event and what it meant to be hosted at QC, “Raas Garba Ratri coming to life was truly special. It represented everything SASA and ISA stand for– culture, unity and belonging. Watching students come together to celebrate felt like seeing our vision in action. Not only has ISA has always been about hosting events to create community but it’s about building a family.”
“My message to students is simple; get involved, share your culture and celebrate who you are.
Queens College is at its best when we all come together, and ISA will always be here to keep that spirit alive.”
Kruti Bhagwanani, ISA’s Marketing and Club manager, commented on her expectations of Raas Garba Ratri, saying “a key factor in organizing the event was setting a date. Due to this difficulty, we postponed the event and it low-balled our potential as to how much more engaging the event could have been.”
She continued, “this year, a lot of people, even outside of Gujarati culture, have been attending Garba events; however, people tend to lack interest in Garba once the Navratri season has passed.”
Amesha Saini, a member of both SASA and ISA observed the variety of participants, “it has truly been really nice getting to know new members and the events that have been held so far has successfully included students of Queens College who identify as South Asian, Indian and other students out of that range.”
When asked about Raas Garba Ratri and its contributions to the ISA, Saini said, “The event contributed to the success of ISA by bringing students together, even outside of this culture, to learn why we celebrate Navratri and have fun with us.”
QC Students are encouraged to attend other SASA and ISA events and create a bigger community.
