Our Bureau
South Brunswick, NJ
The Indo-American Cultural Foundation of Central New Jersey (IACFNJ) successfully hosted its annual South Brunswick Garba 2026 on October 9 and 10 at South Brunswick High School, bringing together thousands of participants from Central New Jersey and surrounding communities for a vibrant celebration of Indian culture, music, dance, and tradition.
The two-day celebration featured traditional Garba, energetic Dandiya-Raas, and the popular Gujarati folk dance Sanedo. Participants of all ages arrived in colorful traditional attire, creating a festive atmosphere filled with music, enthusiasm, and community spirit. The celebration began each evening with Aarti and prayers to Goddess Amba Maa, followed by Garba and Dandiya-Raas.
The event welcomed distinguished local leaders and elected officials, including South Brunswick Mayor Charles Carley, Deputy Mayor Ken Bierman, Councilwoman Archana Grover, South Brunswick Police Chief James Ryan, South Brunswick Board of Education members Barry Nathanson, Mike Mitchell, and Raja Krishna, North Brunswick Board of Education member Manpreet Singh, Community Supporters Mukund Thakar, Sunil Nayak, Kaushik Vyas, Ritesh Shah, Rupen Patel and Ketan Shah. Their presence reflected the community’s support for IACFNJ’s efforts to promote cultural understanding, diversity, and community engagement.
South Brunswick Garba 2026 was made possible through the generous support of sponsors, local businesses, community partners, and volunteers. Royal and Daawat Basmati Rice, represented by LT Foods, sponsored the Best Dress and Best Dance competitions. Middlesex County Cultural Arts, Patel Brothers, OHM International, Dr. Navin Mehta, Arista Care, MP Engineers, and Ruby Memorial were among the major supporters. Reshma Nangia Heritage Studio of Princeton generously provided prizes recognizing the best-dressed men and women. The delicious food vendors were Jhopri Restaurant of Plainsboro and Ice Gola Express.
Beyond the festivities, South Brunswick Garba 2026 served as a powerful celebration of cultural heritage, diversity, and community unity. Bringing together thousands of people across generations and backgrounds, the event created a vibrant space where families strengthened cultural ties, younger generations connected with their Indian roots, and the broader American community experienced the richness of Indian traditions. More than a cultural celebration, South Brunswick Garba fostered meaningful connections, promoted mutual respect, and strengthened the bonds that make Central New Jersey a more inclusive and connected community. With more than two decades of community service, IACFNJ continues to build bridges across cultures, preserve India’s rich heritage for future generations, and demonstrate how shared traditions can unite people, celebrate diversity, and enrich the social fabric of our community.
The IACFNJ Executive Committee, Board of Trustees, organizing team, and volunteers worked diligently to ensure the event ran smoothly. The organization extends its heartfelt gratitude to all sponsors, supporters, volunteers, media and community members whose dedication and overwhelming participation made the celebration a tremendous success.