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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline OCTOBER 02, 2026 | The Indian Eye 23

New York’s South Street Seaport Museum to

host Navratri Raas-Garba celebration

OUR BUREAU al programmes, education, language
classes and community gatherings
NEW YORK, NY
aimed at amplifying South Asian
he South Street Seaport Muse- voices in the United States. Its pro-
um and The Culture Tree will grammes cover subjects including fes-
Thost a Navratri Raas-Garba tivals, women’s health, food, identity
celebration aboard the historic 1885 and representation.
tall ship Wavertree on October 10, Tickets for the Navratri pro-
bringing a traditional Indian festival gramme will also provide general
to one of New York City’s historic wa- admission to the museum’s historic
terfront landmarks. ships and exhibitions on the day of the
The event will take place from 2 event. Visitors can explore the Waver-
p.m. to 5 p.m. and will feature an intro- tree and the 1908 lightship Ambrose
duction to Navratri, traditional Guja- sic Raas-Garba steps before leading a The Wavertree sailed for 24 years at Pier 16, as well as exhibitions at
rati music, a Raas-Garba dance work- dance-along featuring popular songs. and is believed to have circumnavi- the Schermerhorn Row galleries and
shop and a community dance session. Organisers said the event is open gated the globe at least three times. the Maritime City exhibition at A.A.
Anu Sehgal, founder and CEO to both first-time participants and ex- It is now described by the museum Thomson & Co. on Water Street.
of The Culture Tree, will open the perienced dancers. Indian food and as the last remaining iron-hulled, The South Street Seaport Muse-
programme with an introduction to drinks will be available for purchase, three-masted full-rigged cargo ship. um, founded in 1967, preserves and in-
Navratri, the Hindu festival associ- while attendees will be encouraged to The vessel has been part of the South terprets New York’s history as a major
ated with the worship of the divine wear traditional Indian clothing. Street Seaport Museum’s historic port city. Its collection includes works
feminine. The programme will also A limited number of dandiya fleet and was listed on the National of art, maritime artefacts, a reference
highlight the historical connections sticks will be available at the museum Register of Historic Places in 1978. library, exhibition galleries, education
between the Wavertree and In- on a first-come, first-served basis. Par- The museum said the ship rep- spaces, working 19th-century print
dia before participants take part in ticipants who have their own sticks are resents the importance of sailing shops and a fleet of historic vessels.
Raas-Garba dancing. encouraged to bring them. vessels, maritime workers and New The Navratri celebration is part
DJ Magic Mike will provide tra- The celebration will be held on the York’s waterfront in the development of the museum’s wider programme of
ditional Gujarati music for the event, main deck of the Wavertree, an iron- of the city. events connecting New York’s mari-
while head dancer Meha Sedana and hulled, three-masted cargo ship built The Culture Tree, which is time history with the city’s diverse cul-
her troupe will teach participants ba- in Southampton, England, in 1885. co-hosting the event, works on cultur- tural communities.

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