Garba (India) performed by Libana at informal gathering with SEWA Women (Gujarat, India) 2011

LIBANA: global music, connecting cultures
Learn more about Libana at www.libana.com/
During a February 2011 tour of North India, Libana had the honor to visit the Ahmedabad based organization SEWA (Self-Employed Women's Association: www.sewa.org/) and experience some of their amazing programs. Towards the end of our time together, a celebration Garba dance was held for the SEWA organizers/employees and Libana. After dancing together for a while, we danced and sang our Garba (which we had performed all over North India) for them!
A truly inspirational group of women, SEWA is dedicated to helping and protecting poor, self-employed women workers who earn a living through their own labor or small businesses. SEWA's main goals are to organize women workers for full employment, so that they obtain work, income, food and social security. SEWA believes women should be autonomous and self-reliant, individually and collectively, both economically and in terms of their decision-making ability.
The beginning of spring and fall are important seasonal points in the wheel of the year in India, and are seen as sacred opportunities for the worship of the Divine Mother. During the nine nights of Navaratri (an autumnal festival) leading up to the full moon, communities all across Gujarat. as well as Gujarati communities worldwide, celebrate the Goddess Durga, the manifestation of the divine feminine in the form of Shakti, or energy/power. The Garba is traditionally danced in a circle by the women of the community.
Libana learned these songs and dances with the generous help of Veena Teli and Shuchita Rao in the Boston area, and the dance was choreographed by Linda Ugelow. Dancers are Linda Ugelow and Allison Coleman. Performed on hammered dulcimer, dholak, frame drum, finger cymbals, and vocals (Cheryl Weber is soloing).
For blog entries and photos from our India tour:
Stories from the Rajasthani Road journals.worldn...