Navaratri Garba

Navratri Garba is a vibrant, circular folk dance from Gujarat, India, performed during the Hindu festival of Navratri to honor Goddess Durga, symbolizing the cycle of life and victory of good over evil, with dancers moving rhythmically around a central lamp or image, clapping and spinning in colorful attire, often with sticks (Dandiya). 

Key aspects of Garba during Navratri:

• Meaning & Symbolism: “Garba” comes from Sanskrit for “womb,” representing life, with the dance symbolizing the circle of life, death, and rebirth, centered around the divine feminine.
• The Dance: Dancers form circles, moving counter-clockwise with rhythmic steps, hand claps, and arm sweeps, often barefoot, around a ‘Garbo’ (an earthen pot with a lamp) or Durga idol, which signifies life within the body.
• Festival Context: It’s a central part of the nine nights of Navratri, a festival dedicated to the nine forms of Goddess Durga, celebrating her victory over the demon Mahishasura.
• Attire: Dancers wear brightly colored, mirror-worked traditional Gujarati clothes like the chaniya choli for women and kediyu for men, often adorned with jewelry.
• Variations: While Garba is the circular dance, it’s often performed alongside Dandiya Raas, where partners use colorful sticks (dandiyas) to strike each other’s sticks in rhythmic patterns.
• Cultural Significance: Garba promotes social unity, transcends boundaries, and was recognized by UNESCO in 2023 as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.