Empowering Lives, One Beat At A Time- Guru Garjana Foundation

What is the Guru-Garjana Foundation?

Residents in South Florida have founded an NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) called “Guru-Garjana.”  The foundation is about a musical band that has initiated a path for promoting Indian culture by playing Maharashtrian instruments while raising and earning donations for the people who are less fortunate in their homeland of India. Maharashtrian is a culture that represents spiritual connections and celebrates Indian festivals.

This video shows that Guru-Garjana’s vibrant attendance lights up the show, and the members are committed to their cause.

Guru-Garjana Video

What does the Guru-Garjana Organization do? 

Every week, on Saturday at Tradewinds Park, the whole group of Guru-Garjana comes together to practice and maintain their skills for upcoming events.  Representing the different instruments that they play, such as the Dhol, Tasha, Zanj, and Lezim. On their Bootstrap, you will see that they have all of the lessons on how you would play different types of beats, and on that beat, you would sync with the rest of the team.

For the Teens, if you are looking for community hours, you could earn some by going to practices and helping the team with their priorities. 

What kind of instruments are played? 

One of the instruments that is played is named the  Dhol, which is a big drum that needs a stick, which is called the Tipru. According to the bootstrap on Guru Garjana’s website, you would have 7 rhythm beats to play, which will be used to sync with your group.

The next instrument we have is the Tasha. And the Tasha represents a sharp and clear piercing of sounds. It contributes to the dhol. The equipment that you would need is a kettle drum with 2 long sticks to play the rhythm accordingly.

Next, we have the Zanj. This is the instrument where two metal plates collide against one another when you’re playing. They originally go along with Tasha and Dhol.  

Finally, we have Lezim. This is an instrument that has two sticks. One is smaller, one is longer, and you would have a string where it is attached to small metal plates.  They make a jingling, melodious sound depending on your formations.

How do they prepare for their events? What is their dress code?

 First, they will start with their proper traditional clothing. Some of the attire options do include Guru-Garjana’s main purple and yellow; the women would wear the colored nauvari with the Guru-Garjana colors, and for the men, they would wear a kurta.  In some cases, there will be several times where you could wear your own choice, but it has to be some type of traditional formal. In the photo, you can see that the ladies are wearing the Nauvari and the men are wearing the Kurta.

When do they perform? Where?

The Guru-Garjana Foundation performs occasional events on the Indian calendar. In the month of October, they are going to perform at Diwali events, Dussehra traditions, or private parties hosted for sponsors. This engages the audience but also helps in supporting their cause. They travel all around the state of FL and bring the vivacious presence of their enthusiasm and positive energy.  

Why does Guru-Garjana do what they do?

Guru-Garjana’s main mission is not just about culture and spreading tradition, but also gathering awareness about how women and children are facing poverty in India. They have committed their time and effort to making futurable events happen, while also supporting their cause.

If you are looking for more community hours or just want to practice a new skill and instrument, join Guru Garjana or donate to be a part of the cause!

Here is the link for more info: Guru Garjana Academy