|
The most common form of public celebration is the performance of garba or dandia-ras, Gujarat's popular folk-dance, late throughout
the nights of these nine days in public squares, open grounds and streets. Females wear ethnic Chania Choli and Males wear
Dhoti-Kurta and enjoy garba and dandiya ras (dance) the whole Night. The participants move round in a circle around a mandvi
(garbo), a structure to hold earthen lamps filled with water and to house the image or idol of mother goddess.
A betel nut and a silver coin are placed within the pot, called a kumbh, on top of which a coconut has also been placed. Pandals
are erected over these madvis and decorated with asopalav, date palm leaves, flowers and electric light. As the dancers whirl
around the pot, a singer and a drummer provide the musical accompaniment.
The participants clap in a steady rhythm. The dance usually starts slowly. It gets faster and faster as the music too gets
more rapid until the dance abruptly comes to a halt. There is a pause for a while and the dance commences once again, the
singer leading with a new song.
Another dance which is also a feature of Navaratri is the dandia-ras or �stick� dance, in which men and women
join the dance circle, holding small polished sticks or dandias. As they whirl to the intoxicating rhythm of the dance, men
and women strike the dandias together, adding to the joyous atmosphere. So popular are the garba and the dandia-ras that competitions
are held to assess the quality of the dancing. Prizes are given to those judged to be the best. The costumes worn for the
dances are traditional and alive with colour. The dances usually commence late in the night and continue until early morning,
testifying to their great popularity.
Mail to: himanshus@apolloahd.com
1A, Bhat GIDC, Bhat, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India - 382428
Phones: +91 79 66701800 / 01 / 03 Fax: +91 79 66701843
|
