Navratri!! The annual Navratri Utsav, or Festival of Nine
Nights, provokes the cities of Gujarat into light, colour, dancing and music, during
September-October. Amba Mata, the earth goddess bestowing strength and power against the forces of
evil, enjoys special attention during Navratri by Puja in circles and dances of the Ras
Garba tradition. These dances normally begin at eleven at night and continue till dawn, at
various sites, in different areas in each city.
Various
Categories of Garba
Duha:
Is in opening fast tracked song, at a very high pitch and after that
the 'geet' follows! Men display an energetic form of dance
synonymous with the tunes.
Raas: It's roots lay from the days of Lord Krishna who played
'raas'on the shores of Yamuna river on a moonlit night with his beloved
Gopis..the tradition still continues! nowadays, men and women play
in pairs with bamboo sticks called 'dandiya'!
Garba: Is a very graceful form of dance among the Gujaratis
and it is peformed on 9 nights, 'Navratri' to Goddess Ambica, where
women dance gracefully in circles sometimes also using, 'Bedu, Kanjari'
or just 'Taali' and 'Chapti' They are dressed in exqusitely embridored,
set in mirrors 'Choli', 'Ghagra' and 'Bandhani' dupattas, silver oxidised
jewellery where in 'Tika' and 'Anklets' are a must! the dress code
of men is Kehediyu, Chudidar and a Turban.
Aarti: Is sung in the beginning genuflecting the Goddess. Prayers are offered and
Prasies are sung and danced with diyas in hand.
Jaag: Is a slow paced dance where woman carry on their heads
lamps lit in piecered pots. This form is associated with old traditions.
