Garba (dance)
Indian folk dance
- 3 min read
- 4 chapters
Related on Lably
Through Gujarat, Hinduism and Menstrual cycle
Garba is part of the annual Hindu festival of Navaratri (or "Nine Nights"), held in celebration of Amba Mata, or the primordial mother, an incarnation of Durga. Garbas form part of Navaratri celebrations at fairs and feasts. Typically, at the end of each Navaratri night of dance, the Gujarati community also plays dandiya raas, a sibling circle-dance form, in which players hold a stick in each hand and tap out a rhythm with a partner. Everyone is invited to join garba and raas, and people of all ages dance together. It is played around an earthen pot with holes on the sides, revealing a flame inside (a symbol of the jiva or soul inside the womb). Alternatively, a picture or statue of the Hindu goddess Amba may be placed in the center of the circle. When there are large numbers of participants, they make concentric circles to form rings around the object of veneration.
Etymology
The word garba comes from the Sanskrit word (Sanskrit: गर्भ, romanized: Garbha) for "womb" and so implies gestation or pregnancy — life. Folk dances in Gujarat are frequently performed to mark the first menstrual cycle or are performed to mark a marriage.
Sign in to keep reading
3 more chapters are free with a Lably account.
Dance, music and symbolism
Modern garba is also heavily influenced by Dandiya Raas, a dance traditionally performed by men. The merger of these two dances has formed the high-energy dance that is seen today. Traditional garba music accompanying the dance involves the dhol and dholak (Indian drums), cymbals and shehnai (an Indian flute).
The dance is a counterclockwise circle dance, alternatively participants can form concentric circles moving in opposite directions. The dance gathers speed as it progresses. Its main aspect consists of encircling an image or symbolic representation (like a clay pot), representing the shakti of goddess Durga. Garba dances honour the nine forms of Durga during the Navaratri ("Nine Nights") festival and celebrates fertility and womanhood.
Popularity
Garba has spread beyond Gujarat all over India and among the Indian diaspora worldwide. For instance, garba is popular among Gujarati communities in the United Kingdom where there are a number of these communities hold their own garba nights. Garba competitions are now also organised by dance troupes in universities since the turn of the millennium.
In December 2023, UNESCO recognized garba on the list of the world's Intangible cultural heritage.
Discrimination
Hindu nationalist organizations have attempted to harass Muslims taking part in Garba events. Muslims have also been denied entry into Garba events without prior warning or rule. In 2014, Hindutva organisation Vishva Hindu Parishad demanded Muslims not to join Garba events. In 2025, a memorandum was submitted by Antarrashtriya Hindu Parishad and Rashtriya Bajrang Dal demanding ban on entry of Muslims in Garba events and checking of Aadhar IDs before allowing entry. In Chattisgarh, a Muslim youth participating in the event were forced to chant religious slogans and bow before a deity.
In 2017, a Dalit youth was killed by upper caste men after he went to watch a Garba event in Anand district. After such series of attacks on Dalits, more than 100 Dalit families celebrated Navratri with "Ambedkar garba".
In 2018, a Dalit man alleged that he was told to not enter a Garba event in Ahmedabad. Following this, a fight broke out between the members of Dalit and Darbar castes.
In 2022, an episode was dedicated to the Garba controversy on Aaj Tak's show Black and White, where the anchor Shudhir Chaudhary speculated a Love Jihad motive on part of Muslim individuals who were interested in attending Garba. Similarly, the show "Rashtramev Jayate" on News Nation referred to a “garba jihad”.