Navratri -- Celebrations in Gujarat

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Navratri -- Celebrations in Gujarat

Navratri is devoted to Anba mataji. In some homes, images of mataji

are worshipped in accordance with accepted practice. This is also

true of the temples, which usually have a constant stream of visitors

from morning to night.

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. The women dance around an earthen lamp wherein centric

goddess Durga is placed ,all of them including males sing devotional

songs accompanied by rhythmic clapping of hands.Garba is sign of

happiness and relief from the demon, which was expressed in the

earlier times by the people .Clapping is the form of thanking and

giving gratitude to goddess Durga, as she had saved the entire world

from the atrocities of the Mahisasur.

 

All the nine days of the 'Navratri' females as well as males ,dress

up in a very traditional manner,males wear kediyu (mini frilly frock

with strings on sides) and females with choli and gareras with their

dupatta's covering their heads, after which they really look like

Indian dolls.Covering of heads represent the females shyness from the

males.

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. On the music men and women

strike the dandias together, adding to the joyous atmosphere.

 

In different parts of the state the celebration of Navratri has

different emphasis. In Saurashtra, bhavai, a dance drama is played.

At Vadnagar in Mehsana Vada Garbani Sheri is focus of the attention

as large number of men and women participate in garba. In Ahmedabad

the fusion of modern music is at its peak and youngsters have gala

time.