Lucknow: Glittering faces, intricate braids and circles of dancers moving to the beat of dandiya sticks set the mood atAdani Times Garba Utsav 2026on Friday. With traditional outfits adding to the festive spectacle, the event brought together dance, food, craft and play, giving revellers plenty of reasons to dress up, let loose and make memories.Beyond the dance floor, visitors explored a carnival of hands-on activities. At the pottery corner, they tried their hand at shaping clay, while face art and intricate hair braiding helped them complete their festive looks.The viral falling-sticks challenge tested their reflexes, while DIY counters offered custom candles, crochet bouquets, phone charms and beaded bracelets.“I made a bracelet and picked a phone charm to match my outfit. It is a small souvenir from the evening,” said Ritika Sharma, a college student.Visitors also made the most of the event’s colourful backdrops, posing for pictures in coordinated outfits. For many, the evening was as much about creating content for Instagram as it was about dancing.“We planned our outfits beforehand and had a list of reels we wanted to shoot. Every backdrop gave us a different look, and we kept going back to the dance floor to capture the perfect clip,” said Riya Malhotra, a college student.The food stalls offered another reason to take a break between activities. Dabeli, Gujarati chaat, chilla, lassi and fresh juices found many takers, while those observing fasts enjoyed makhana and peanuts. Groups gathered around food counters before returning to the dance floor for another round of Garba.“I came here for Garba, but the food and activity stalls made it a complete evening out. We kept moving between the dance floor, food stalls and craft counters,” said Aditya Verma, an IT professional.As the evening gathered pace, DJ MaskBox, of international fame, arrived on stage with his characteristic aura of mystery, wearing a helmet that flashed only his initials. From hidden Gujarati gems to saucy flying saucers of the Udta Punjab kind, the DJ had curated a playlist that gave Lucknow a night to remember.Thoughtfully included were numbers like Saddi Gali and Main Nikla Gaddi Leke from films shot in Lucknow. From Dholi Taro to Shubha Mudgal’s throaty Mharo Dholna, there was hardly a number that wasn’t someone’s personal favourite.Dancers formed circles, matched their steps and moved in rhythm, with dandiya sticks clicking to the beat.The Skyhops dance group added to the spectacle with aerial lifts and a Ganesh Vandana performance, while Friendship Band brought another musical dimension to the celebrations.The evening also recognised participants who stood out. Pavika Tewari (5) won Best Kid Dancer, Madhurima (36) was named Best Dressed Lady, Prashant and Aneesha won Best Couple, while Mujtaba received the Best Dressed Man title.“The award was a bonus, but spending time together made it special,” said Aneesha, one half of the Best Couple winners.The reverential yet thundering Jai Ganesha Deva, sung by Shivam Mishra, got the early arrivals in step.A series of peppy filmi numbers, Gujarati folk tunes and other chartbusters had revellers showing off their best moves. Then, after an electrifying performance set to Gotilo, the lead dancer turned choreographer, getting everyone to form a circle and dance the way traditional Garba is performed.
