The Gujarati Samaj of Tampa Bay was born in June 1981 at the residence of Mr. Ghanshyam Patel at a meeting of a few individuals including Ghanshyam Patel, P.S. Patel and Pradip Patel. The Samaj celebrated the Navratri Garbas at the Seminole Garden Center on Central Ave. and the Diwali program at the Roy Haynes Park in 1981 under the first president Mr. Ghanshyam Patel.
P.C. Patel presided over the Samaj in 1982. Navratri garbas in those days were very simple considering the costumes and the music. The music was pre recorded on audio tapes and played on a portable audio cassette player.