Members of one of Bahrain’s oldest expatriate communities came together to celebrate an age-old dance form that has been added to Unesco’s Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) list.
A group of dancers from the vibrant Indian community showcased the ‘garba’ dance form at the iconic 200 years old Shrinathji temple in Manama during an event attended by Indian Ambassador Vinod Jacob.
The Indian state of Gujarat’s iconic garba dance has been recognised as ICH by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).
To mark the occasion, the Thattai Hindu community organised a special evening in association with the embassy.
The ambassador congratulated the community and said this achievement was a matter of pride and honour for India.
“Garba dance form strengthens community bonds and the celebration at the historical temple stands as a testimony to the deep-rooted traditions between India and Bahrain,” the Indian ambassador said, in a statement.
The celebration was attended by residents and citizens from across the kingdom.
The garba dance is performed traditionally every year at the Shri Krishna Temple in Manama during the Navratri festival.
‘Garba of Gujarat’ was inscribed in the ‘Representative List of ICH’ during the 18th meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of ICH, which ends today in Kasane, Botswana. The popular dance form is the 15th ICH element from India to join this list.
“This inscription underscores garba’s pivotal role as a unifying element that fosters social and gender inclusivity,” Mr Jacob added.
“As a dance form, garba is entrenched deeply in ritualistic and devotional roots, involving people from all walks of life and it continues to thrive as a vibrant living tradition bringing communities together.”
In India, Gujarat’s state government is organising several curated ‘garba’ events across districts to mark this milestone.
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