SANTA CLARA, CA: Javanika Entertainment presented ‘Queen of Garba’ Falguni Pathak on Friday, October 14 at spacious Santa Clara county fairgrounds, Tully Road, San Jose. The event was completely sold out.
The whirling dancers, clapping hands, distinct sound of wooden sticks struck together, toe tapping music and people wearing vibrant colorful clothes marked the Navratri celebration at the Garba & Dandiya Raas dances. This is part of the worship of Durga Mata who symbolizes the victory of good over evil. The Navratri celebration marks a festival of nine nights during which Hindus worship goddesses Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati, the goddesses of health, prosperity and knowledge, respectively. While Navratri and Dussehra (the 10th day) are celebrated by Hindus with regional variations, the most famous one is from the state of Gujarat.
Falguni Pathak and her band Ta Thaiya needs no introduction. Pathak, 45, is India’s undisputed Dandiya Queen. She’s been performing since 1986, forming Ta Thaiya in 1994. Her youthful but powerful voice may seem at odds with her signature jacket, sunglasses, short hair, trousers. Pathak’s specialty is in mixing unheard, unusual numbers with popular hits. “I like to give something new and different every year,” she says.
Pathak was born in Mumbai, to a Khar family that already had four daughters, and might explain why they chose to dress her in trousers and short hair even when she was little. What’s harder to explain are her musical skills. She started singing on stage at age 9, growing up to perform at neighborhood events before she hit the big league in the 1990s.
“The reason people love me could be perhaps because I sing from my heart and soul. The songs that I select are a mix of both folk and Bollywood. I do give little variation in notes, but keep the soul,” she said at the press conference held at India Community Center, Milpitas.
The event was successful and attended by over 3500 Bay Area residents. Jagruti Desai Shah, CEO of Javanika Entertainment who hosted this dream show, is also bringing the King of Garba “Atul Purohit” on Oct 22 and she says it is a proud moment to host both the legends. She thanked the sponsors, volunteers for their support and hard work.
Vidya Sethuraman
India Post News Service
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