BHUBANESWAR: Good food, colourful clothes, music and dance are great stimulators for mind and body. The Garba dance which is the trademark ballet of navratri provides all the aforementioned aspects of enjoyment. In fact, this is one of the most popular forms of dance in the country. Originating from Gujarat, Garba deep stands for a womb and small earthenware lamp in Sanskrit.
In the dance, usually women carry nine earthen pots over their heads. Inside each pot, a diya is lighted to salute the nine spirits and nine nights of Navratri. According to the Puranas, Garbha Deep (“womb lamp”) or lantern represents life. The dancers honor Goddess Durga, the feminine form of divinity. Participants often perform in a circle to represent human life and death and how the light keeps on burning which is the form of goddess inside each human being.
Both male and female dancers participate in this dance. Currently, the craze of Garba is sweeping people of all ages in this festivity. Orissa Post interacted with a few enthusiasts and devotees of Maa Ambe or Durga to delve deeper into the subject.
Secretary of Gujarati Samaj Bhubaneswar Papu Bhai, who has been organizing Garba for the past 43 years said, “Both men and women wear colourful costumes while performing garba and instruments like drums, harmonium and taali are played for the music. In fact, the music of Garba is considered to be religious. However, nowadays Disc Jockey (DJ) music is added to give it a new twist. Sanehdo Sanehdo Lal Lal Sanehdo is a popular Gujrati folk song that sets the tempo of any Garba night. Around 500 people participate every night during Navratri.”
Sneha Lal, a researcher of ancient Indian culture, said, “I can relate to Garba at a personal level as I am a Gujarati. However, the interesting part of our culture is that people of Bhubaneswar are also adapting to this dance form during Navratri and wearing the same Garba clothes like us. This is like a breath of fresh air for me.”
Deepti Mahasagar, a NRI who lives in USA, said, “I am here in the city to celebrate Durga Puja with my in-laws. Garba is hugely popular across the globe. Garba most certainly has a global appeal. In fact 20 universities across the globe hold Garba dance competition every year.”
Chaitali Shome,OP
