India Association of Minnesota (IAM) is organizing second Pink Garba on Friday October 28th at 5 p.m. at the Maple Grove Central Park Phenow Pavilion at 12000 Central Park Way, Maple Grove, MN 55369. 2022 Pink Garba is IAM’s second annual breast cancer awareness event. Garba is an Indian dance performed during Navaratri in October to honor womanhood. October is also Breast Cancer Awareness month. “Pink Garba” is the melding of celebratory dance and the sharing of women’s stories of strength and survival.

Significance: The National Cancer Institute estimates that one out of eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. Breast cancer incidence and death rates generally increase with age, with the majority of new cases and breast cancer deaths occurring in women age 40 and older. Breast cancer is also on the rise in brown women, including Indian women.

Education and awareness: The Pink Garba initiative supporting breast cancer awareness encourages women to adopt the life-saving practices of regular self-examinations, clinical breast exams and mammograms and helps them recognize there is a supportive community behind them. A panel of experts will discuss prevention, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship and respond to questions from the audience. There will be a fun trivia and Q&A session with prizes.

Social Support: A breast cancer diagnosis can bring a wide range of emotions including shock, fear, sadness and anger. The support of family, friends and others can be helpful in the journey through diagnosis, treatment and beyond. Social support is the emotional support, practical help, advice and other benefits from interactions with people, including family members, friends, spiritual advisors, co-workers, health care providers and other cancer survivors. This year’s Pink Garba event aims to build a strong and supportive community of women to unite to honor cancer survivors, raise awareness about reducing cancer risk, and raise money to bring hope to cancer patients.