Bhangra dancing is a tradtional part of Punjabi and Sikh culture, and you can see some of Massachusetts’ best bhangra dancers in Union Square this Saturday night. Image via Wikimedia Commons.
The word “Punjab” comes from the Persian for “land of five rivers,” and in this portion of South Asia, waters from across the continent come together before flowing into the sea. Punjabi culture mirrors the flow of water in Punjab, mixing and combining different traditions from a wide variety of sources and eventually finding its way to our shores. This Saturday, from 4:00pm-8:00pm, you can experience Punjabi and Sikh culture for yourself at Utsav! A Festival of Sikh & Punjabi Culture in Union Square.
The party gets started with an hour of live performances of traditional music. Then, dance crews take the stage, showing off the colorful costumes and choreography of bhangra. Stick around for a performance of Gatka, a highly stylized Sikh martial art that I can’t adequately describe in words. Here’s a short video of what you can expect from a Gatka performance (swords included!):
There’s also FREE FOOD from the good folks at the Gurdwara Sikh Sangat Society along with handicrafts from local artisans. I hope you can attend!