Sixteen years ago, a group of IU students founded Raas Royalty, one of the most prestigious Indian dance competitions. Raas Royalty showcases eight collegiate Raas dance teams from across the country and allows them to compete for the crown! For the 16th year running, Raas Royalty is free of charge and continues to be the only free collegiate garba-raas competition in the United States. Raas Royalty invites you to learn more about Indian culture and to watch creative and energetic performances from the best teams across the country.

What is Garba-Raas?
Garba and Raas are traditional forms of dance originating in Gujarat, a region in India. Both dance forms are performed during Navratri, a nine-day celebration that celebrates the victory of good over evil. This form of devotional dance (Raas) uses sticks called ‘dandiya’ and is a partner-oriented dance done to the beat of the dhol drum. In recent years, choreographed garba-raas has become increasingly popular at universities nationwide as competitions provide the outlet to showcase the talent and creative spin put on a timeless tradition.