Indians celebrate Navratri with Garba at Times Square, not everyone is amused

A Navratri Garba performance by Indians briefly turned Times Square into a dance floor. The video prompted both praise for cultural expression and criticism over using a busy public space.Indians celebrate Navratri with Garba at Times Square, not everyone is amused (Photos: @iAkankshaP/X)New York,Oct 13, 2026 15:59 ISTTimes Square is usually filled with tourists, flashing billboards and the constant bustle of New York City. But for a group of Indians celebrating Navratri, the iconic public plaza briefly turned into a Garba dance floor, complete with colourful traditional outfits, energetic music and people dancing together beneath the giant screens.X user Akanksha Parmar shared a video of the celebration, showing a large group performing Garba in the middle of Times Square.The clip captured the dancers moving in circles, clapping to the rhythm and spinning in sync with the music, while the familiar illuminated billboards loomed over the gathering.Many participants were dressed in traditional Indian attire, including vibrant lehengas and kurtas. Music played through speakers set up nearby as onlookers stopped to watch, with some joining in the festivities. The contrast between the traditional Gujarati folk dance and the bright, bustling surroundings of Times Square made for a striking scene.Garba is traditionally performed during Navratri, the Hindu festival dedicated to the worship of the divine feminine, particularly Goddess Durga. The dance brings people together through rhythmic movements, clapping and circular formations, making it a central part of celebrations across Gujarat and among Indian communities around the world. Parmar captioned the video, “Navratri vibes in New York!” She described Times Square as having turned into a vibrant Garba ground, where music, colour, devotion and the spirit of Maa brought people together.Watch the video here:Navratri vibes in New York! Times Square, NYC turns into a vibrant Garba ground, with music, colors, devotion and the spirit of Maa bringing everyone together. https://t.co/eMmWl5YXZ3— Akanksha Parmar (@iAkankshaP) October 12, 2026However, the celebration also received criticism online. Some users questioned whether organising such festivities in a busy public space was appropriate, arguing that celebrations should be kept within designated venues or private premises.Others expressed concern that such displays could fuel negative perceptions of Indians living abroad, with some saying that the actions of a few could unfairly affect the wider Indian community.The reactions reflected a divide between those who viewed the gathering as a joyful expression of cultural identity and those who felt public celebrations needed to be mindful of the space they occupied and the people around them.- Ends