Garba Dance

Garba

Garba, Garba Dance, How to Learn Garba, Garba Dance Steps

Ashwin Navratri 2012 : 16th to 23rd October

Garba is the popular dance from Gujarat and is being performed not only all over India but all over the world by the Gujaratis. Garba is an Indian form which has originated in the Gujarat region. It is more similar to the classical Indian dances such as Bharatanatyam and Odissi. The name garba comes from the Sanskrit term Garba which means "belly" and Deep which means "a small earthen lamp" while many traditional sheaves are performed around a central lighted lamp. Garbha is a circular form of dance performed by ladies on the Navaratri days which are auspicious days of Goddess Durga in the Winter Months, during Sharad Purnima, Vasant Panchami, Holi and other festive occasions.

The performances of the dance are arranged by different clubs and cultural committees. During the 'Garba night', the participants gather at an open space, a club or at street corners. They stand in a circle, around an idol or photograph of the goddess that is kept in the center. The dance in mood begins with beats in slow tempo. As the dance proceeds, the energy level of the participants increases due to the fast beat and tempo of the music. The music is synchronized by a drummer who stands in the center of the dancers.

Navratri Garba is the most colorful form of dance in India. The performers of Garba dance are both men and women, who would clad themselves in colorful and magnetically attractive traditional attire. The most chosen attire for the dance is sari for women worn in the typical Gujarati style. In Saurashtra region, the performers of Garba Dance would wear magnificently embroidered petticoats, Ghaghara with a backless choli kapdu, which would be accessorized with a head cover odhani. The dancers decorate themselves with lots of silver jewelry on their head. Their male counterpart would wear kediyum shirt and vajani trouser, with a rumal which is a printed headpiece. In traditional Garba dance the musical instrument usually used are Drum, harmonium and naal.

In the very earlier primitive form of Garba dance, the women used to place the pot 'Garba', with lamp on their head and move in a circular motion along the circle. The women sing and clap their hands simultaneously and synchronize their circular steps, very gracefully. The dance is accompanied by folk instruments and the pot is filled with a betel nut and a silver coin. On top of the pot coconut is placed, giving it the appearance of a holy 'Kumbh'. In the interiors of Gujarat, there exists a tradition, according to which, women place the perforated earthen pot (with the lamp inside it) at the center on a stool and dance around it, by clapping their hands and singing songs in the praise of Goddess Jagdamba.

Steps involved in the dance

The dance involves circular and spiral figure which is spiritual. Traditionally the dance is held during the festival of nine days of Navaratri . A lamp (the Garba Deep), or an image of the goddess Amba is placed in the middle of concentric rings as an object of veneration. People dance around the center, leaning to one side every step, their arms gesturing radicals, each movement ending in applause.

The dance form of Garba has more fluid movements with hands clapping in unison, bodies gracefully bending sideways while every step and arms coming together in beautiful sweeping gestures in different directions. Where almost always all the movement ends in a clap. Garba is dance performed differently in different regions of Gujarat and different communities have evolved their own style and steps.

Garba Dance basic dance steps involves singing and clapping rhythmically while going round the goddess Durga. Garba is the leading dance of women in Gujarat and is performed throughout the nine nights of Navaratri.

The actual performance usually begins at night after the women finish their house hold work. All the women gather at street corners and the folks come out into the open with perforated earthen pots holding lighted lambs poised on the head and sing, clap.Garba songs are generally in the praise of Mother Goddess Amba.

The rhythm is always kept by a Dholi or drummer who sit in the centre. The costumes and the instruments used are very much traditional which mostly consist of a short coat called Kedia with tight sleeves with embroidered borders and shoulders, tight trousers like the Churidars and colourfully embroidered caps or coloured turbans and a coloured waist band.

Today the Garba dance is divided into two types- modern and traditional dances. Different types of Raas Garba are Dandia Raas, Taliclap Raas, Khanjari musical instrument raas, Manjira musical instrument raas, diva clay lamp raas, Tippni special stick raas, Talwar raas, beda raas, thaliplate raas,etc.

           

Garba and Raas

Navratri - Navdurga - Garba and Raas  -

 Garba:

Garba Dance is a popular folk Dance of Gujarat. A graceful, rather unique dance associated with the raas lila of Krishna and the gopis (female cowherds). It is believed that Lord Krishna popularized the Ras dance, Usha, the grand daughter-in-law of Lord Krishna gets the credit for popularizing the Lasya Nritya, which came to be known as Garba Dance. This dance is performed by ladies on the Navaratri days, Sharad Purnima, Vasant Panchami, Holi and such other festive occasions. The word Garba is derived from the word Garbha Deep meaning a lamp inside a perforated earthen pot. The light inside the perforated earthen pot symbolised the embryonic life. In this folk dance, ladies place the pot with the lamp on their heads and move in circles, singing in time measure by clapping their palms or snapping their fingers, to the accompaniment of folk instruments. Formerly associated with the legend of Krishna, Garbha is now a regular feature during the Navratri puja (nine nights in honor and worship of the goddess Durga).

Garba songs are mostly in praise of Mother Goddess Amba describing her form, powers, and invoking her blessings. Also there are Garbas describing seasons and social themes of domestic ends and married life.

Musical accompaniments to Garba are Damru, Tabla, Nagara, pot drum, percussion, Ektaro, Ravan hattho, Jantar, Pavo, shehani, murli, turi, and taturi.

 Raas

Raas which is supposed to belong to Kutch and Saurashtra is performed all over Gujarat. The rasa traditions are as old as the Puranic period. In various parts of the country, Rasa are danced in different manners. The main feature of Rasa is dancing in a circle by men and woman, to the accompaniment of musical instruments and keeping  time either by clapping or beating of two sticks. The number of dancers go from 8,16, 32  up to 64 couples, who also sing the song. There are three varieties of Rasaka described.

Danda Rasaka-Rasa dance where Danda or sticks are used.

Mandala  or Tala Rasaka-Rasa  dance where clapping is used.

Lata Rasaka-Rasa dance where dancers cling to each other  and dance like a creeper to a tree.

Raas Nritya is a form of dance performed by lord Krishna with Gopikas. The Dandia variety of the Raas Nritya of Gujarat is generally performed by a group of youthful persons, both males and females, who move in circles to measured steps, beating time with small sticks (called dandia) singing to the accompaniment of Dhol, Cymbals, Zanz, flute or Shehnai. Now a days Dandia variety or Danda Rasaka is most popular dance form which is performed by the dancers during the Navratri and is popularly known as Dandiya Raas.

The Gof variety of the raas is an intricate performance wherein the performers holding coloured strings attached to a top, move in circles weaving and unweaving different patterns.

The Mers of Saurashtra are known for their folk dance called the Mer Raas. White shepherds  perform what is called the Gher Raas. The Gheria Raas is a dance performed by the agriculturists of south Gujarat.

Garba Dance and Raas Dance Forms

Garba Dance is a traditional Indian folk dance with origins dating back 5000 years.

Dancers move in a circulation formation using intricate feet movements whilst their hands flow round their bodies with finger clicking and clapping.

The dance starts at a slow pace and speeds up as the rythmn of the accompanying Garba music increases.

This is an elegant, energetic, fun exercise which involves individual and group coordination.

Dancers wear traditional colourful costumes.

Garba Dance is a popular folk Dance of Gujarat. It is a circular form of dance performed by ladies on the Navaratri days, Sharad Purnima, Vasant Panchami, Holi and such other festive occasions. The basics of the dance are singing and clapping rhythmically while going round the goddess.

Garba is the leading dance of women in Gujarat. The Garba dance is performed throughout nine nights of Navaratri. The actual performance begins at night after the women finish their house hold work. All gather at street corners.

Women folk come out into the open and with perforated earthen pots holding lighted lambs poised on the head sing, clap. Garba songs are mostly in praise of Mother Goddess Amba. The rhythm is kept by a Dholi or drummer who sit in the centre.

The costumes and the instruments used during these folkdances are also typical folk costumes which mostly consist of a short coat called Kedia with tight sleeves with embroidered borders and shoulders, tight trousers like the Churidars and colourfully embroidered caps or coloured turbans and a coloured waist band.