American girl falls in love with Gujarat, sings garba songs

American girl falls in love with Gujarat, sings garba songs
By our correspondent
Ahmedabad, DeshGujarat, 25 September, 2009



When American girl Callion Shannon sings Gujarati garba, she sings it without any single mistake.

Shannon, an architecture student who stays in wall city area of Ahmedabad as a paying guest, is impressed by the Gujarati culture in general and Navratri in particular.

As Navratri festival is on, she has learnt to sing Gujarati garba song ‘Mare Todle Betho Mor’ from her Guru Jagdeep Mehta who runs Golden Cheers Orchestra and also owns Haveli in which Shannon stays.

Just in a week time, Shannon learnt the song and performed it at as many as five major Garba venues including Vibrant Gujarat Navratri Mahotsav in the city of Ahmedabad in front of lakhs of Gujarati people.

“Shannon sings Gujartai garba songs so perfectly that one can’t differentiate her from other Gujarati singers. When we announce from the stage that this song was performed by an American lady, then only the people come to know the fact and they feel surprise,” says Jagdeep Mehta, Shannnon’s Gujarati music Guru.

“I love Navratri and Garba culture of Gujarat. Singing before thousands of people is an amazing opportunity. I would like to learn more garba songs. Language is no barrier. Gujarati is sweetest language.” says Shannon.