NAIROBI
DANDIYA
RAAS
TEAM
(around 1961 - 1963)
by
Bhikhubhai V Mistry, Banbury,
Coventry Samaj
Email: [email protected].
Row 1 (L - R):
Pravinbhai P Mistry (Leicester),
This photo was taken in the early
1960s when the Prajapati Community
of Nairobi used to celebrate 9 days
of Navratri every year with great
tradition and enthusiasm. The
Dandiya Raas team was an amateur
(semi) production that used to
travel all around Nairobi where they
were invited to perform. Generous
donations were given to Samaj for
this performance and delicious
Prasad was served.
Ranchhodbhai K Mistry and
Govindbhai K Mistry were the two
main organisers of this team. The
training used to begin
a few weeks before
Navratri. Occasional
rehearsal made sure
the group would give
a perfect performance!
The practice was held
at the Nairobi Prajapati
Samaj hall for youths
like me who would go to
the Samaj after school.
knitted, it was then unwound with
reverse steps routine.
The change of steps was controlled
using the whistle by Ranchodbhai K
Mistry and Govindbhai K Mistry. They
made sure that everybody moved in
synchronised steps. The rhythm for
Raas and Garba, by the home grown
musical team, was excellent. The
traditional Tabla (Natubhai Mistry),
Dholak, harmonium (Govindbhai who was also a trustee for the Nairobi
Fund in India) and manjira were
played very systematically. The main
singer was Thakorbhai N Mistry who
was well supported by
others.
‘Dori’
Dandiya
Raas was a
Favourite...
The Dandiya Raas style
used many different steps. One of the
favourite items was the ‘Dori’ Dandiya
Raas - using a rope hung / supported
from the ceiling, where one end of
the rope was held by each participant
while they performed the dance.
Different patterns were created as
the rope inter-knitted with the steps
routine. Once the rope was fully
In the UK, Jasuben
taught the Dandiya
Rope routine to the
London team. It was
performed at the
Variety Show organised
by SPA (UK) at the
DeMontfort Hall in
Leicester during the
secretarial ship of Late
Chhaganbhai Mistry of Leicester.
My special thanks to Dahyabhai K
Mistry and Jasuben Mistry for help
with names and history. If any of
our Sandesh readers recognise the
missing names, or require further
information, please email to me with
pleasure.
Kantibhai N Mistry (London),
Narubhai C Mistry, Shashikant P
Mistry (Leicester)
Row 2 (L - R):
Chottubhai Mistry (London),
Manubhai (Pragjibhai) V Lad
(London), Name not known,
Narishbhai’s youngest brother
(in line 4, AshtonU-Lyne),
Jasubhai Mistry (Ashton-U-Lyne),
Ranchodbhai K Mistry (Preston),
Govindbhai K Mistry (Leicester),
Kuverjibhai C Mistry (Leicester),
Vithalbhai N Mistry (Leicester),
Babubhai Mistry (Rugby),
Bhikhubhai Mistry (Leicester)
Row 3 (L - R):
Dullabhbhai G Mistry (AshtonU-Lyne), Thakorbhai N Mistry
(London), Jaychandbhai P Mistry
(Leicester), Dhirubhai N Mistry
(Tameside), Manilalbhai Mistry
(Watford), Name not known,
Navkalank C Mistry), Bhikhubhai
V Mistry (Coventry), Name not
known, Lalbhai H Mistry (London)
Row 4 (L - R):
Govindbhai N Mistry (London),
Narshibhai D Mistry (Tameside),
Maganbhai Mistry (Hounslow),
Manubhai C Mistry (Leicester),
Thakorbhai P Mistry, Naginbhai G
Mistry (East London), Thakorbhai
G Mistry (USA), Chaganbhai Mistry
(Bradford), Bhagubhai B Mistry
(Leicester), Name not known,
Kesavhbhai K Mistry (Bradford)
vol. 40 | Prajapati Sandesh 2015 | www.prajapati.org.uk
37