"PALO ALTO, CA: Vibha, a US based non-profit organization organizes 'Vibha Disco Dandia' every year to celebrate the spirit of Navratri (a nine-day Indian dance festival) and to raise funds for supporting the education of underprivileged children. This year, 'Vibha Disco Dandia' will be held on October 19 in Palo Alto and October 20 and 27 in San Jose. 'Vibha Disco Dandia' features an eclectic mix of Garba and Dandiya Raas dance forms, heavily embroidered Indian costumes (ghagra and cholis), sumptuous Indian food and traditional Dandiya music complemented with disco beats.

Vibha has been organizing Vibha Dandia, its flagship fund-raising event for the past ten years. Vibha is a Sanskrit word that means inner radiance or brightness and it signifies the organization's vision of providing every underprivileged child with an opportunity for a brighter future. Last year, 'Vibha Disco Dandia' raised approx 25K; an amount which was used to help educate and rehabilitate children.

A volunteer driven organization, Vibha, has 14 US based action centers that have supported 53 grassroots projects in India and the US. Vibha has raised nearly $6 million to support more than 110,000 needy children. Vibha will be funding Kids coming home, a program that involves recruitment, training, and support for foster care and adoptive families.

Vibha's contribution would allow three families to complete training and become certified to have a child or children come home to them for placement.By organizing fund-raising events such as 'Vibha Disco Dandia 2007' every year, Vibha not only provides our community opportunities to enjoy and experience different dances of India but also utilizes such activities to make a difference in many lives. This year, 'Vibha Disco Dandia 2007' will be held at two locations in the Bay Area.

On October 19, the event will be held at Cubberly Hall, 4000 Middlefiled Road, Palo Alto and on October 20 and 27, it will be held at San Jose State University. At both the venues, decorated and embroidered Dandia sticks will be sold. Vibha has also arranged free Dandia lessons to the first 500 ticket holders.

These lessons will teach the basic and advanced steps of Dandiya Raas and Garba. Also, at the venues, you can enjoy the Indian paan - a chewable mixture of betel nut, grated coconut, rose syrup, candies, cardamom on a betel leaf.