About this Event
Garba in Brooklyn
A Navaratri Performance & Community Festival at Xanadu Roller Arts
Celebrate Navaratri with Garba in Brooklyn, a festive afternoon and evening of dance, music, roller skating, art, food, and community in the heart of Bushwick!
Hosted by Alisha Desai Dance at Xanadu Roller Arts, this annual celebration brings together traditional and contemporary Indian dance, participatory Garba and Dandiya Raas, local vendors, family-friendly activities, and plenty of opportunities to dance.
Garba in Brooklyn is FREEPlease RSVP
📅 Monday, October 12, 2026🕒 3:00–8:00 PM📍 Xanadu Roller Arts262 Starr St, Brooklyn, NY 11237
✨ EVENT SCHEDULE
🛼 3:00–5:00 PM | Open Skate + Festival Activities
Start the afternoon on the rink with open roller skating at Xanadu!
While you’re there, explore the festival:
- 🛼 Open Skate - Skate rentals available
- 🎨 Dandiya Craft Station — decorate your own dandiya sticks
- 🛍️ Local vendors
- 🍴 Food and drinks available for purchase from the Xanadu Bar & Kitchen
- 🎶 Music, community and Navaratri festivities
Come early, grab some food, make your dandiyas, browse the vendors, and enjoy the rink before the Garba celebration begins!
💃 5:00–8:00 PM | Garba Performances + Community Dance
At 5 PM, the rink transforms into our Garba dance floor!
The evening will feature:
- ✨ Indian dance performances
- 🥁 Live dhol
- 💃 Garba & Dandiya Raas lesson
- 🎉 Open Garba & Dandiya dancing
No Garba experience is necessary. We’ll teach you the basic steps before opening the floor so everyone can join in.
Whether this is your first Garba or a tradition you look forward to every year, all ages and experience levels are welcome.
🪘 ABOUT GARBA IN BROOKLYN
Garba in Brooklyn was created to bring the joy and community of Navaratri to Brooklyn through dance, music, and cultural celebration.
The event begins with performances highlighting Indian dance traditions and contemporary South Asian dance, followed by an accessible Garba and Dandiya Raas lesson and an open community dance.
Bring your own dandiya sticks if you have them! A limited number will also be available at the event.
🌺 WHAT IS NAVARATRI?
Navaratri is a nine-night Hindu festival honoring the Goddess Durga and celebrating the divine feminine.
Across India and the diaspora, communities gather during Navaratri to celebrate through music, prayer, food, and dance. In Gujarat, the festival is especially associated with Garba and Dandiya Raas, joyful folk dances traditionally performed together in large circles.
At the heart of Garba is community. Garba in Brooklyn welcomes people of all backgrounds, faiths, ages, and experience levels to learn, participate, and celebrate together.
🎟️ FREE EVENT with RSVP
Admission to Garba in Brooklyn is free.
Roller skate rentals, food, drinks, vendor purchases, and other optional activities may have an additional cost.
Come dressed to move, bring your friends and family, and join us for an afternoon and evening of Garba, Dandiya, skating, performances, food, art, and community in Brooklyn!
This event is presented by Alisha Desai Dance in partnership with Xanadu Roller Arts.
Garba in Brooklyn is sponsored, in part, by the Greater New York Arts Development Fund of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, administered by Brooklyn Arts Council.
Event venue & nearby stays
Xanadu Roller Arts, 262 Starr Street, Brooklyn, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.