Positive Points for GCA:
– more “room” for adults and kids. Kids can play around freely.
– reasonable price also.
Positive points for SEF:
– Good music
– Nearby for many south bay people.
Thoughts from other KVites about which one are they planning to attend this year?
We enjoyed the santa clara convention last year. Up for going once more.
I was thinking of taking GCA annual membership and they have 6 dandia nights. I have always gone only to GCA. What are the SEF details?
Still debating between the two :). SEF was awesome last year.
Has GCA published the orchestra/musician for each of the nights. Also what are the membership fees for the next year? The membership form online is for last year.
No they have not yet published the performers. The membership form in the newsletter is supposed to be the new one but the year is still wrong and the membership rates are same $40 for family and $10 additional for family members
Strange, only few comments on this one. KV doesn’t seem to be in a mood for dandiya this year or what?
I will go with the KV gang of course. Need to consider how many times are we really going to go considering our Diwali practice.
We are in. Will go where the KV gang goes.
Prefer SEF but will join the gang.
Will join the KV-crowd any place the khiladees decide to go 🙂
We also enjoyed the SEF dandiya last year and would prefer to go there again.
I spoke to a few folks over the weekend and conclusion was that last year SEF had a record KV attendance. With GCA, not as many KVites are seen around.
SO we will go for SEF for at least one night. And that night will be Sep 26 (since its the closest date to Navratri).
For other nights (for those who are interested) we can explore other options in this thread (GCA, ICA (india culturual association, SSF (small steps foundation) etc).
Seems like most of us want to go for SEF 🙂
Which date are we all preferring??
26th or 3rd?? – There is Vibha on 3rd, GCA also on 3rd and then some Pandit Jasraj concert on 3rd. On 26th – GCA and SSF Dandiya
Oops – seems like Prashant already suggested 26th Sep.
If SFF dandiyas are for 2 or 3 nights then does it have like discounted rate tickets if we plan to go all the nights instead of buying each dandiya night tickets separately
Now that SEF is decided as One Venue. Who all are interested in going to GCA as well on other weekends?
I am interested in GCA
Its from my heart. Who has gone for School of Architecture Garga at Amdavad/vadodara,
GCA rocks for true gujarati cultural garba/dandia. its awesome!! No hindi movie music/no any other music/dance.
I called GCA and they do not allow any music/dance other than gujarati cultural garba/raas.
Great – Work Out with dodhiyu 🙂
People who are into hindi movie music/dance, please join the desi parties with dandia sticks, there are many desi parties going on in Bay Area now and then.
Do not mix/encourage hindi movie music with cultural and pius world of garba/raas
In the final analysis, SEF Dandia had too much break in-between. Got a bit crowded during Dandia time. And there was the issue of not allowing us to make our own circle initially. The music was definitely foot-tapping and good.
GCA was also good this year. They had good music and lot of space for kids to play. Venue wise I doubt any Garba venue can beat Cal State Hayward venue. GCA catered to the South bay residents by hosting 2 dandias in the South bay. We visited GCA Dandia 3 times this Navratri. They had different musicians every time. And all of them were acceptable.
Money wise GCA was a definite value for money for families with kids due to the space for kids to play and the fact that 40$ gets your whole family IN for the whole season.
In conclusion, If I had to choose one out of the above two for next year, I would go with GCA.