PARSIPPANY — Smith Field Park was filled with music, traditional dress, and Garba dancing Saturday night as Parsippany hosted its first large-scale outdoor Garba celebration, drawing families and community members from across Morris County and surrounding areas.
The October 3 celebration featured singer Kavya Limaye performing live, along with Garba and Dandiya Raas, food vendors, community booths, and family activities. The event had sold out before Saturday night, reflecting strong interest in the township’s growing Indian-American cultural events.
The event was presented by the Indian-American Seniors Association of Morris County, United Rishabh, the New Jersey Indian American Association, and Hetal Patel Live Events, in partnership with the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills.
Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor Pulkit Desai attended the celebration with his wife, Sangeeta Desai, joining residents and organizers throughout the evening.
Also attending was U.S. Rep. Analilia Mejia, who represents New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District, which includes Parsippany. Mejia took office in April and currently serves on the House Homeland Security and Small Business committees.
Council President Judy Hernandez and Council Vice President Diya Patel also joined the celebration, representing the Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council. Their current leadership positions are listed by the township.
A special shoutout also goes to Mahesh Prajapati, who played a role in helping bring the event together. Prajapati was listed as one of the primary community contacts for the Garba celebration and helped support the planning and coordination behind the sold-out event.
Organizers Pinal Patel, Rajni Patel, Lav Patel, Danny Desai, Nirav Patel, Ekta Sheth, and Jeegnesh Kothari were also listed among the community members involved with the event. Their work, along with Prajapati and the participating organizations, helped turn Smith Field Park into a large outdoor Navratri celebration.
Throughout the night, attendees gathered in large circles across the field for Garba and Dandiya Raas while Limaye performed traditional Gujarati music from the stage. Families, seniors, young people, local officials, and visitors participated in the celebration, many dressed in colorful traditional Indian attire. The organizers described the event as an opportunity to bring different generations and communities together through music, culture, and tradition.
The Garba celebration followed another large Indian-American gathering held at Smith Field Park earlier this year, continuing the venue’s growing role as a gathering place for cultural events in Parsippany.
Saturday night’s turnout also highlighted the size and visibility of Parsippany’s Indian-American community, while giving residents from throughout the township an opportunity to take part in one of the most recognizable traditions associated with Navratri.
For Parsippany, the evening was more than a performance. It brought residents, elected officials, organizers, businesses, and families together in one place and gave the township another major community celebration centered on its cultural diversity.
