#westbindi

Part 4 of 6 😍 follow @shayshotz for her amazing Indo-Caribbean content! . . @Regran_ed from @shayshotz - [swipe] Chances are the song in the second set will make you nostalgic for every good backyard party or wedding reception night! Music is one of the biggest things that unites people in the Caribbean. This song is by a Bajan soca band called Krosfyah whose iconic song forever changed the vibe of soca. Soca originated from Garfield Blackman (Lord Shorty) in Trinidad to compete with the popular reggae music at the time and to preserve calypso. He did so by fusing Afro and Indian beats not only to bring together their sounds but to unite the people. The song that really pushed the popularity of soca is Hot Hot Hot Bum by Buster Poindexter which is undeniably known by every Indo-Carib and even others around the world. In present day genres like chutney, dancehall, and raga soca remain hugely popular amongst the Caribbean countries. • Our music is incredibly lively and ignites an emotion that is unexplainable - just felt to your core. @nailahblackmantt said it best, "when I see my people dancing all I hear is soca." It is the sound of our childhoods. The sound of the warm summer air as your neighbor starts up their bbq and sends the vibes all around. While we may share parts of our ancestors cultures, this musical bond is specific to the Caribbean and the land we've come to know as home. I believe our music came about to match the overall theme we share of enjoying life despite the odds that are against us. If you ever need to dance your stress away find yourself a west Indian party cause it's mad vibes straight till tomorrow morning so 💃🏾 - #westbindi #westbindis https://www.instagram.com/p/BpN9DHCn-tv/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1p9rwbehqoxei

Excuse us while we are currently living for @shayshotz series celebrating Indo-Caribbean women! Obsessed with these images and the gorgeous @sonia.s__ 😍❤️ check out the cultural bits written below to learn more about us and how we came to be 💞 . . @Regran_ed from @shayshotz - [2/6] @sonia.s__ is a Christian guyanese and in these images she is using a mala (Garland) which is usually hung around the bride and groom's neck at a Hindu wedding ceremony. Christianity and Hinduism are the two dominant religions in Guyana with Islam following third. As a practicing Muslim, my paternal grandmother and her lineage was Christian (she has African roots), my mother was Hindu before marrying and my father was one of the first in his family to begin learning Islam in depth. This mix of religions and ethnic backgrounds is not uncommon for various Indo-Caribbean countries. We still face colorism issues within our communities as do all people deeply affected by colonialism, but I believe we have come further in terms of marrying between races and religions. In fact, the mixing of people from African to Indian to Portuguese to Chinese to Amerindians (natives to the land) is what has made the Caribbean countries what it is. Our combined practices and cultural customs have led us to become a melting pot of 7 curry when wedding time comes around, pepper pot at Christmas, and a good lamb curry during Eid! 🍴 . . p.s: a very happy birthday to the beauty pictured here 💖 can we appreciate this makeup!! by: @safina.khann creative direction: @shayshotz . #westbindis #westbindi #indocaribbeanwomen #caribbeanwomenwhoblog #caribbeanblogger #westindian #westindianwomen #westindianart https://www.instagram.com/p/BpA9u06nVET/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=83ylhoj1he6e

REPRESENTATION MATTERS!!!! I cannot express how ELATED I am seeing this posted by such an AMAZING and prominent South Asian cultural page! I started West Bindi page after seeking representation from several other South Asian pages and getting turned down. Thank you guys for putting US on your page and educating others on our existence through @shayshotz post So proud ❤️ check out and follow @shayshotz for her awesome content and her informative history lesson about us 💞🇬 . . @Regran_ed from @browngirlmag - “Guyana and Trinidad not only rank number 6 and 8 on the list of total foreign born immigrants living in New York City but also rank as the top two countries in the Caribbean with Indo-caribbean populations. Even so, we are often grouped together with the South Asian demographic both in terms of statistical identification and cultural normalities. It is important to note that though some Indo-caribbeans choose to identify as South Asian to reduce complications, our culture is vastly different and our history branched off of whatever homeland we originated from many years ago. • Instead, our past is carved from ancestors of ‘indentured servants’— a fancy name for slavery that allowed it's cruel nature to be continued after its abolishment in the U.K. Laborers worked on plantations picking cotton or sugarcane. The first set of ‘servants’ arrived in Guyana in 1838 then eventually spreading to places like Jamaica, Trinidad, St. Lucia, Grenada and the rest of the Caribbean. Jamaica was the first Caribbean country to gain independence from the British in 1962 and the others followed in the later years of the 20th century. Our ancestors have only recently been freed from oppressive colony regimes and have looked to one another to patch together pieces of their past as well as build a future in their new lands. CARICOM (Caribbean Community) unites the Caribbean in terms of economic expansion and is located in Georgetown, Guyana. What unites us culturally though is our clothing, food, and love of calypso.”— @shayshotz 💃🏽💃🏽 • make-up/hair by: @safina.khann | wardrobe & creative direction: @shayshotz • #browngirlmag #beingBG #browngirl #westbindi #westbindi (at Grenada) https://www.instagram.com/p/BpAGjVzHehq/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=4mieqxig6qd1

Happy Navratri to all my West Bindis! How do you celebrate on your island/country? Grenada's Hindu community is celebrating together tomorrow with Aarti and Garba! Can't wait 😍 Read thru Hamel Patel's lovely description of this incredible festival celebrating STRENGTH, POWER, DEDICATION, SACRIFICE, KINDNESS, CONSCIOUSNESS, L O V E of the nine deities in Hinduism celebrated over nine nights twice a year. "Nav" (nine) "Ratri" (nights). Garba dancing, prayers, fasting, not consuming meat or drinking alcohol are just a few of the traditions observed during this beautiful festival/prayer time. #westbindis #westbindi #navratriinthecaribbean #caribbeannavratri #westindiesnavratri #navratriinthewestindies . . . @Regran_ed from @hamelpatel_ - / nävˈ• rät • ri / : nine nights Symbolizes the victory of positivity over negativity. Navratri is a Hindu festival, which means nine nights in Sanskrit! Traditionally these nine nights are a celebration dedicated to Maa Laxmi (goddess of spirituality), Maa Saraswati (goddess of wisdom and art), and Maa Durga (goddess of war), who destroyed Mahishasura (demon) and all human impurities! Apart from the religious significance, Gujaratis like myself, celebrate by dressing up and showing off our best moves at Garba/ Dandiya Raas (folk dance)!! If you know me, you know GARBASZN is one my absolute favorite time of the year! So here's a look dedicated to the traditional attire we wear during Garba! 💃🏻💃🏻 Outfit/Jewelry: Mom's Navratri Collection . . . @vdlus Lumilayer Fresh primer #lumislayers @lauramercier #flawlessfusion ulta-longwear foundation in 4W2 chai & glow setting powder #mercierbyme @hudabeauty #hudabeautyoverachiever in graham cracker, #hudabeautyeasybake in blondie, #hudabeautyobsessions in topaz @benefitcosmetics 24 hour brow setter #benefitbrows #benefitclubpink @colourpopcosmetics brow boss pencil and all star setting spray #colourpopme @mentedcosmetics lipstick and liner in dope taupe @covergirl black liquid eyeliner #iamwhatimakeup #navratri #navratri2018 https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo4LK50nBQh/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=8001nz68ebfk

This caption couldn't be any more accurate. I struggled yesterday to compose a post dedicated to #mentalhealth but I really couldn't. I was having a difficult day. "Mental", the word itself is given a negative connotation and if you suffer from anything related to this word, it's considered that something is wrong with you. YES! Something is wrong with me. Reach out. Check in. Help me. But also know that I'll also always be there for you. I'm just one message away and I promise to be everything to you that I want you to be for me. #westbindis #westbindi #mentalhealthday #takecareofeachother #imhereforyou #pleasebethereforme https://www.instagram.com/p/Boy51NfHhoi/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=d4zntj8w8p78

Retro Rekha... wearing Hoops! Two pages you absolutely have to follow: @bynainah for her awesome artwork (such as this and countless others) and @retrobollywood if you're a Bollywood junkie like me! Thanks @bynainah for mentioning that page as well. It's an awesome resource for all things Retro Bollywood!✌🏼😉 . . . @Regran_ed from @bynainah - What if Rekha.... wore hoops 🤔 original photo inspo taken from @retrobollywood . . . #westbindi #retrobollywood #bollywoodtimes #classicbollywood #rekha https://www.instagram.com/p/BogpuOcnd_k/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=108n859gh1vbw

New feature sharing the life and story of Michelle Crichton @genuine_michelle5 🔸 Michelle Crichton was born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario Canada. She works in the financial services industry and enjoys writing in her spare time. 🔸 Michelle launched her first book “Coming Out Alive in a Workplace Battlefield” December 2017 which is available for purchase through various bookstores in Ottawa and online.  🔸 Read more about Michelle's story and her experiences growing up with multiple ethnicities in Canada. (Link in bio) 🔸 #westbindi #westindianwomen #caribbeanindianwomen #empowerment #westbindis #indiancaribbeanwomen

NISHTHA (Allegiance/Loyalty) SHAKTI (Power) TYAAG (Sacrifice) Happy International Women's Day from West Bindis ❤️ . . . #westbindi #westbindis #caribbeanindianwomen #indiancaribbeanwomen #empowerment #womenempowerment #westindianwomen #browngirlgang #browngirlmag #indocaribbeanwomen #amarnanixo #browngirlpower