About Garba Dance

Garba Dance

Garba is a form of dance which was originated in the state of Gujarat in India. The name is derived from the term Sanskrit Garbha (“womb”) and Deep (“a small earthenware lamp”).

Many traditional garbas are performed around a centrally lit lamp or a picture or statue of the Goddess Shakti. Traditionally, it is performed during the nine-day Hindu festival Navarātrī.

The contemporary form of Garba

Modern garba is also heavily influenced by DandiyaRaas,a dance traditionally performed by men. Both men and women usually wear colourful costumes while performing garba and dandiya.

The girls and the women wear Chaniya choli, a three-piece dress with a choli, which is an embroidered and colourful blouse, teamed with Chaniya, which is the flared, skirt-like bottom, and dupatta, which is usually worn in the traditional Gujarati manner. Chaniya

Cholis are decorated with beads, shells, mirrors, stars, and embroidery work, mati, etc.

Traditionally, women adorn themselves with jhumkas (large earrings), necklaces, bindi, bajubandh, chudas and kangans, kamarbandh, payal, and mojiris. Boys and men wear kafni pyjamas with a Ghagra – a short round kurta – above the knees and pagadi on the head with bandhini dupatta, kada, and mojiris.

Garba and its popularity

There is a huge interest in garba among the youth of India and in particular, the Gujarati diaspora. Garba is also very popular in the United Kingdom where there are a number of Gujarati communities who hold their own garba nights and widely popular among the Gujarati community even in Canada, where the largest navratri festival in the western world is held annually in Toronto.   Instruments

Damru, Tabla, Nagara, pot drum, percussion, Ektaro, Ravanhattho, Jantar, Pavo, shehani, murli, turi, and taturi. Last but not least.

One of the most popular competitions among them happens to be Garba with Attitude which is hosted by ISC or Indian Sub-Continental Club from the University of California.