9 days of Dandiya Ras and Garba – Significance & History

I was about to post this last to last year but due to busy schedule I was unable to upload this dandiya night video on YouTube, but now as all of us are aware of this year! It is going to be silent and there will be no any dandiya night being organized due to covid-19, hence I decided to commemorate those old days with some olden memories of the year 2018 when everything used to be normal, everyone was free to travel and move wherever they want to. It was the then era 😊. But anyways I wanted everyone to feel the same tranquillity and happiness, so kindly watch the video attached & Subscribe to our Youtube channel.

Now let’s talk about the history and Significance of Dandiya & Garba!

 

 

If you look at the history of these two dance forms – Garba and Dandiya, both originated in Gujarat, and are performed during Navratri. Why during Navratri? you may ask. The reason is that these dance forms are a dramatization (sort of like a mock-fight) of the nine-day battle between Goddess Durga and the demon king Mahishasura, in which the Goddess emerged victoriously. This is what Navratri symbolizes as well – the triumph of good over evil, even if that evil stems from our own cluttered and undisciplined mind. These nine days give us a chance to purify negative thoughts and start afresh.

While Garba is played in the beginning and before the aarti, Dandiya comes after the aarti as part of the enjoyment and the end. The steps to Garba are soothing and so are the songs while the Dandiya songs have a lot more beats and energy. Both are odes to Ma Durga, one in her tender, gentle loving form as the mother of the universe and the other as a fierce warrior, the destructor of all evil.

Garba vs. Dandiya

Garba has a more devotional appeal, as it is performed to bhajans and chants, praising the many divine forms of the Goddess Durga. It is done before the aarti is performed.

On the other hand, Dandiya is usually played during the late evening, as part of the cheerfulness, after the aarti is done.

The real crux lies in the warmth and togetherness we feel when we gather around our family and friends for nine days, a time filled with joy, love, and devotion. But this year we will miss all these essentials, but still, we will try to be happy in the small things we are blessed with.

The devotion is directed to the Goddess and is also a manifestation of the gratitude we feel in being alive and blessed with so much abundance. Navratri would be incomplete without these dazzling dances and this art form!

 

The Significance of Garba dance

Traditionally, Garba is performed around an earthen pot (garbo) with a lamp inside, which is called a ‘Garbha Deep.’ This representation is symbolic. The lantern symbolizes life – the fetus in the womb, in particular. The pot itself is a symbol of the body, within which divinity resides. Dancers move around in circles, making circular movements with their hands and feet around this earthen pot. This gesture symbolizes the circle of life, which moves from life to death to rebirth, leaving only the Mother Divine unmoved, unchanging and invincible. The Garba costume or dresses consists of the choli or blouse, chaniya or long skirt and an embellished dupatta. Embroidery and mirrorwork may be found on the multihued attire, making the atmosphere vibrant and lively. The men wear a kediyu (a full-sleeved kurta that is tight at the chest and flares like a frock at the waist) with kafni pajamas (a multi-pleated pant that tapers towards the bottom) and a pagdi or turban.

The Significance of Dandiya dance

In this dance, both men and women energetically & enthusiastically dance with colourful and decorated bamboo sticks, striking them to the beats of instruments like the dholak and tabla. The dance is a beautiful way of re-creating the battle that took place between the Devi and the demon. It signifies the defeat of evil over good. The colourful sticks used during Dandiya represent the sword of Goddess Durga, that’s  why this dance form is also known as ‘The Sword Dance.’ The sounds of the instruments playing are evocative of the metallic clangs or clashes that may be heard on the battlefield. Women wear ghagra (long skirt), the choli (blouse) and odhni (shawl). Men wear traditional dhotis and kurtas. Mirrorwork is, again, a signature design of these costumes. The costumes of both the Garba and the Dandiya highlight the vibrant colours of Navratri.

I just wanted to let us feel the serenity of the olden days and how we use to celebrate our festivals during the normal days, but dear friends never get dissatisfied with whatever you have, and never feel bad about the current situation as nothing is permanent, not even your problems, so try to keep yourself calm and peace inside your mind, and thing that whatever God has planned is for good and everything will be okay soon.

Let’s pray to Goddess Durga to kill mahisasur again and offer us salvation once again. Happy Navratri from Vedics & Ancientry.