Whitby Garba Fest brought about 2,000 people to the Abilities Centre and included a $2,001 donation to Lakeridge Health Foundation, according to organizers’ account reported by Durham Post on October 19.
Unity in Diversity held the indoor celebration on Sunday, October 11. The newly reported attendance and charitable contribution describe the completed event, rather than an invitation to buy tickets for a future festival.
Music, dance and community support
The organization’s event listing identifies the venue as the Abilities Centre at 1 Jim Flaherty Street in Whitby. It invited people of all ages and communities to take part in Garba and Dandiya, with live music and support for local health care.
Durham Post reports that Nick Pandya performed during the evening. Organizers described a gathering of families, young people and seniors from Durham Region and the wider Greater Toronto Area. The cheque was presented during the celebration, according to the report; attendance and donation figures are attributed to the event account.
A separate Whitby celebration
This festival was distinct from Unity in Diversity’s September 26 outdoor Garba event in Bowmanville, which supported the Bowmanville Hospital Foundation. The October 11 Whitby gathering took place at a different venue and reported a different donation.
Daily Durham also reported the Whitby result on October 19. Organizers described it as their largest Garba celebration in Durham; that description is not an independently established regional ranking.
