Editor’s Note: The writer of this piece is a student enrolled in the Advance/SILive.com High School Journalism Immersion program at Staten Island Technical High School.The program’s goal is to encourage young people to learn more about community journalism.

With the annual Tbilisoba festival, New York City transforms into a major hub for celebrations honoring Georgian culture. The festival, which is held every year in Brooklyn, has developed into a significant occasion for the expanding Georgian community in the area and an intriguing way for tourists to learn about Georgian customs.

The woman who organized and choreographed the festival, Shorena Barbakadze, founder of the Pesvebi Georgian Cultural Center, lately thought about the importance of Tbilisoba.

The event’s goal was to introduce New Yorkers from a variety of cultural backgrounds to Georgia and Georgian culture. She clarified that she wanted visitors from all walks of life to witness our culture, our gifted dancers, and everything Georgian.

The event honors Georgia’s cultural diversity via a distinctive fusion of dance, music, cuisine, and history.

Nicole Kvijinadze, who resides in Brooklyn and attends the festival annually, said that Tbilisoba “allows Georgians to spread their culture with others and enables everyone to celebrate the wonderful capital of Tbilisi.”

An ancient city

The name is derived from the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi, and alludes to a very customary celebration that commemorates the establishment of that historic city. Since its founding more than 1,500 years ago, Tbilisi has served as the nation’s cultural, economic, and religious center.

Tbilisoba commemorates Tbilisi’s origins and its importance as a cultural hub. It is a time when people gather to celebrate the city’s rich history while dancing, singing, and feasting. While Tbilisoba has grown to be a citywide event in Tbilisi, the local Georgian diaspora in Brooklyn gives it a unique significance.

One of the highlights of the yearly Tbilisoba festival is the dance performances. With permission from Shorena BarbakadzeWith permission from Shorena Barbakadze

Various performances

People from various ethnic origins, not only Georgians, were welcome at this year’s Tbilisoba, which was held in the gated community of Seagate in October. To showcase a bit of Georgian culture, a number of performances were held. Georgian instruments were used to accompany a number of traditional Georgian songs. Solo performances emphasized certain instruments, like the salamuri.

One of the highlights of the festival is the dance acts.

Barbakadze added that she is particularly proud of the younger generations’ participation in the celebration.

The children’s passion and affection are evident as they dance on stage. These kids passionately carry on the traditions, introducing Georgian culture to both international visitors and other Georgians, she said.

Georgian traditional dances, which are renowned for their elaborate and vivacious motions, typically take center stage. These dances are an essential component of the nation’s cultural identity and have been performed for many generations.

I have pleasant memories of my time as a dancer at Tbilisoba. Among my favorite aspects of the festival were getting ready with my friends, sharing our culture with others, and creating stronger bonds, said Dea Turashvili, a former dancer and regular visitor to Tbilisoba.

An interactive experience

However, Tbilisoba’s cuisine is equally as captivating as its dance and music. Georgian food, which combines Mediterranean and Middle Eastern ingredients, is well-known for its strong flavors. The event offers a fantastic chance to sample some of the most well-liked Georgian foods, including:

• 
  Khachapuri: probably the most iconic Georgian dish, a cheesy, buttery bread.
  
• 
  Khinkali: Dumplings of meat and spices, but normally served with black pepper.
  
• 
  Mtsvadi: a type of shish kebab of seasoned meat, usually pork.
  

Numerous Georgian eateries in New York are able to set up booths and serve their cuisine to festival attendees. It serves as a means for more recent businesses to get to know the neighborhood. It transforms the event into an interactive experience rather than just a concert.

After a few hours, you’re taken to a completely different universe from the vast, barren areas where nothing is happening at first. “You’re in Georgia, you’re in Tbilisi,” Barbakadze remarked.

Without wine, of course, no Georgian feast would be complete. Due to continuous grape cultivation and production for the past 8,000 years, Georgia is referred to as the “homeland of wine.” The entire selection of Georgian wines is on display at the event. These include species that are unique to Georgian vineyards, such as Saperavi and Rkatsiteli.

A cultural bridge

For both the local Georgian population and New Yorkers, Tbilisoba in Brooklyn has evolved into a colorful representation of Georgian culture that goes much beyond a celebration of Tbilisi’s founding.

Barbakadze expressed his admiration for the large number of non-Georgian tourists that come to see our culture. They get to observe our outstanding dancers, taste Georgian hospitality, and enter a Georgian setting. Everyone has the chance to interact, gain knowledge, and take part in something lovely.

The event offers both the local Georgian population and tourists a singular opportunity to experience the warmth and vibrancy of Georgia by fusing music, dance, food, and history. With permission from Shorena BarbakadzeWith permission from Shorena Barbakadze

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, a large number of Georgians immigrated to Brooklyn, and they now make up a dynamic portion of the city’s cultural landscape. The event is important to the Georgian community in Brooklyn because it helps them preserve and share their legacy with the younger generation while also bringing it to the attention of the broader public.

It makes me happy as an immigrant to see all the young people and first-generation children glad to call Georgia home. Eteri Nemsadze, who lives on Staten Island and goes to the festival every year with her family and friends, stated, “It is very important to me that these kids know how to speak Georgian and are able to use the Georgian community to support them.”

More than a holiday

Tbilisoba is more than simply a vacation for Brooklyn-based Georgians; it’s a link to their homeland. These kinds of gatherings help many Georgians in Brooklyn preserve their culture. In addition to providing the rest of the community with the chance to learn about that region of the world, Tbilisoba helps the younger generations of Georgians stay linked to their roots.

Barbakadze remarked, “It has become a staple in our diaspora.” Every year, people look forward to the festival’s return. It’s an opportunity for Georgians to unite, express their love for one another and their culture, and connect with like-minded individuals. The community now anticipates it annually as a tradition.

Tbilisoba also reflects the multicultural identity of Brooklyn. Immigrants from all over the world call the borough home, and celebrations like Tbilisoba give local groups a chance to exchange customs and knowledge. The event offers those who are not familiar with Georgian culture a fascinating opportunity to learn about its history, music, and cuisine.

Rusa Lagvilava, who comes from New Jersey every year to see her culture in full bloom in New York City, said Tbilisoba is a celebration of our culture and all the hard effort the Georgian-American immigrants have put into keeping that culture alive.

Barbakadze’s enthusiasm for Tbilisoba is evident, but planning it is a difficult task.

Because it is so cognitively and emotionally taxing, I occasionally consider quitting. However, people are always inquiring about the date and their level of excitement. She continued, “That gives me the strength to keep going.” The fact that the community has come to enjoy and look forward to the festival makes me pleased.

Brooklyn’s Tbilisoba festival is a vibrant celebration of Georgia’s rich cultural legacy. It offers both the local Georgian community and tourists a singular opportunity to experience the warmth and vibrancy of Georgia by fusing music, dancing, food, and history. Tbilosba provides a beautiful sample of Georgia’s long-standing customs and its contemporary celebration in one of New York City’s most diverse neighborhoods, whether you’re a guest or a Brooklyn local.

“It’s really satisfying to see how much the community has embraced this event, and I help create a day where every Georgian in Brooklyn can be happy and have fun,” Barbakadze said.