Navratri without Garba is hard to imagine. This folk dance from Gujarat has become part of the identity of Gujarati families across India and around the world.
What Garba means
The word Garba is thought to come from the Sanskrit words for womb and lamp. In traditional Garba, a clay pot with holes, called a garbo, is placed at the centre with a lamp burning inside. The pot represents the body and the lamp the divine energy within it. Dancers move in a circle around the pot or an image of Maa Amba, and the circle stands for the cycle of life.
How Garba and Dandiya differ
Garba is danced with hand claps and flowing body movements, usually before the aarti in honour of the goddess. In Dandiya Raas, dancers hold a pair of colourful wooden sticks and dance in pairs. Dandiya is also seen as a symbol of the battle between Maa Durga and Mahishasura, with the sticks standing in for the goddess's sword.
Some popular steps
Be taali (two claps), tran taali (three claps) and hinch are the most common steps. Be taali is the easiest for beginners: take two steps forward and clap twice. You will pick up the rhythm quickly.
Before you go
Wear comfortable, breathable clothes. Pair your chaniya choli or kediyu with shoes or mojdis that won't slip. Keep drinking water between rounds, since hours of dancing can dehydrate you. If you are fasting, eat something light such as fruit, milk or makhana before you start. When heading home late, stay with your group and let your family know where you are.