Hundreds turn out to celebrate the Navratri Hindu festival in Clarksville | PHOTOS

CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Emerald in Clarksville was filled with color and excitement Friday night as close to 350 people gathered for the Navratri Hindu festival in honor of divine femininity. Keya Patel is co-sponsor of The Emerald, which sponsored the event for 2023.

Patel said the Indian community has been here since the 1990s and the festival has grown along with the community. Navratri translates to “nine nights,” which is what is celebrated in India and other American cities, but Patel said they only celebrate for one night in Clarksville.

The festival was filled with colorful cultural clothing and music, along with a potluck of food and offerings. At some point just about everyone, young and old alike, participated in the Gujarati cultural dance of Garba. The dance was performed in a circle around a lit lamp called the garba deep.

“The festival is all about celebrating the divine femininity and the feminine power that graces all of us, both male and female. What we’re really doing is celebrating kind of a harvest. In India this is kind of our harvest festival as well,” Patel said.

Those attending the festival were encouraged to bring clothing donations as a way to give back to the community. The donations are going to be distributed locally to Bella’s Closet and YAIPak Outreach. All cultural clothing donations are being sent to non-governmental organizations in India.

Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts and his wife Cynthia attended the event and took a spin around the dance floor. As the founder of Bella’s Closet, Cynthia Pitts said that she was grateful to the Clarksville Indian community for their support, and Bella’s Closet is blessed by everyone’s generosity.

For more events like this, check out the Fall Fun Guide or visit the Clarksville Now events page.

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