Punjabi dance group brings touch of culture to VCU

Bhangra – A Punjabi dance music traditionally performed during harvest festivals and weddings characterized by the beating of a large, two-headed drum.

-Webster’s New World Dictionary

SWARAJ has brought the tradition of Bhangra to VCU through dance.

The student organization is honoring the state of Punjab, India, by performing a choreographed, traditional, Bhangra-style dance to upbeat, modernized Bhangra music.

“It’s a celebratory kind of dance. Traditionally, farmers used to perform the dance to celebrate the harvest of crops,” said Sweta Dharia, who founded the group in fall 2004.

The organization’s members perform the dance to celebrate Indian heritage and culture, often by competing with other groups at the national and international levels.

“They have made such accomplishments as a young team,” said Shivani Shodhan, an active member of SWARAJ

Last March, the group placed third in the National Bhangra Blowout in Washington, D.C. that solidified them as a nationally recognized team. Then in April, the group won three awards in VCU’s Intercultural Festival.

Later, Cornell University invited the group to perform at its Ithaca, N.Y. campus.

“Their accomplishments speak a lot of the team and the quality of students on the team,” Shodhan said.

Still the members rate their No.1 accomplishment just a couple of weeks ago in November when the team placed third in the Zee International Bhangra Championship at the Manhattan Center in New York City.

“I am excited to see the team grow and help any way I can,” Shodhan said.

The performing team consists of 16 students including first-year and senior members. When performing, the team wears full color costumes displaying VCU’s black and gold colors, with men and women in tunics. Women wear scarves wrapped around their heads and draped down their backs while men wear turbans that fan out in the front.

“A lot of work and time goes into the team, but when you get onstage it’s all worth it,” Keith said.