Dr. Parul Shah is Former Dean and Head (Dance), Faculty of Performing Arts, MS University, Vadodara ; Senior Fulbright Scholar of USA Government, Choreomundus Heritage Fellow (European Union), Senior Fellow, Ministry of Culture, Govt of India; Lead the dossier writing committee for getting  the Garba of Gujarat UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage  tag in December 2023.

Garba, the UNESCO-recognised Intangible Cultural Heritage of Gujarat, is far more than a dance-it is a living design ecosystem where textiles, craft, music, movement, ritual, space and community come together in a dynamic tradition of co-creation.

This immersive audio-visual presentation explores Garba as a sophisticated design knowledge system, revealing how weaving, embroidery, printing, jewellery, poetry, music and dance converge to create a vibrant cultural experience. It highlights Garba as an enduring model of participation, sustainability, inclusivity and collaborative creativity—principles that resonate strongly with contemporary design practice.

Moving beyond the familiar image of Garba as a festive dance, the presentation offers a fresh perspective: Garba is a living cultural design system where every artisan, musician, dancer and community member contributes to shaping a shared experience.

Through evocative visuals, music and performance, the presentation celebrates Gujarat as a continuously evolving tapestry of heritage and innovation, where tradition remains a living source of creativity and design.

Part of Crafts of Garba Exhibition Sept 14 – 29. Produced by Subrang Arts, supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. (The Bhavan, London) Curators: Lata Desai/Rolf Killius