Masala-SACE will host GARBA 2007, a multicultural event celebrating traditional Indian dance, music and food on Friday.

The event will be held in the Branscomb Rec Room from 6 to 10 p.m. Dance lessons will be given from 6 to 7 p.m., and traditional Indian appetizers will be served.

"GARBA is an event to spread awareness about South Asian culture on campus," said junior Atur Sheth, vice-president of Masala-SACE. "It's also an opportunity for students to learn a new dance and have fun doing it."

Garba is a traditional group dance from the state of Gujarat in India.

"Last year, a lot of people in Branscomb heard music and came in to see what was going on," said sophomore Chinmayee Tambe. "It was really fun because a lot of people were able to learn the dance and join in."

Pandayas, an internationally recognized traditional Garba band, will play at the event.

"Pandayas played music in the movie ‘American Besi,'" Tambe said. "The band is really traditional and will play different songs throughout the night."

Masala-SACE is Vanderbilt's South Asian Cultural Exchange, a multicultural undergraduate organization that presents events such as GARBA, Diwali, and Holi to promote diversity and spread awareness about South Asian culture on Vanderbilt's campus and in the Nashville community.

Freshman Neha Jeirath, Masala-SACE publicity chair, hopes GARBA will give people a chance to learn more about Indian culture.

"We had a Garba-type dance in Diwali this year, but we also have an event to take an in-depth look at one kind of dance," Jeirath said. "GARBA focuses on one part of Indian culture to learn about it and see different aspects of another culture."