Folk Dances of Gujarat: Garba, Dandiya, Bhavai

We are familiar with the Garba and Dandiya style of folk dances whose roots can be traced back to the western region of Gujarat. Both the dances are very distinct from each other but successfully capture the essence of the real Gujarati traditions and beliefs here. this place is already popular for being associated with lord Krishna, its wonderful temples, remarkably preserved culture and traditions and the impeccable wildlife collection makes it a prime destination for tourist attractions.

Here is everything you need to know about the traditional folk dances of Gujarat along with Dandiya and Garba:

Dandiya Raas

This particular dance form was originated as one of the forms of a devotional dance to honour goddess Durga which has also been called the sword dance since it tells a story of the fight between Durga Maa and the demon Mahishasura. This explains why this dance is primarily performed during the holy time of Navratri when the goddess is being honoured for 9 whole days. Women dress up in elaborate traditional attires like Chaniya Choli etc. and men also wear their traditional clothes accompanied with a turban and dance rhythmically to the traditional tunes of the lord. Dandiyas refer to 2 sticks which the dancers hold and energetically whirl around to various rhythms and tunes of Dholaks, Tablas, Dhols etc. Dandiya Raas is also said to have been originated from the devotional Garba dance but in modern day Raas is not a part of the dandiya performances anymore. Even if you don’t know Dandiya it is a fun experience to be a part of.

History

The original form of Dandiya is actually a mock staging of the fight in between goddess Durga and Mahishasura (the demon king). The sticks which the dancers use are symbolic of the sword which was used by Durga Maa to slay the demon. The roots for this dance can also be traced back primarily to the era of lord Krishna when this was also referred to as Dandiya Raas where the dancers also used to perform Raas Leela as a part of the whole act. From that time, dandiya has garnered the attention of a number of enthusiasts from across the globe who wish to be a part of the merriment. 

Garba Dance:

The term literally translates into ‘womb’ and is considered to be one of the most popular traditional dances from Gujarat. There are several different types of Garba played all over this place. The people dress up in colourful and vibrant traditional clothing and groove in synchronization to the peaceful rhythm. Normally this dance is performed during the 9 whole days of Navratri and the central deity here is and image of goddess Durga. This dance form shares its similarities with a lot of different forms of spiritual dances in the world. Men and women dance around this image in circles and move together in perfect synchronizations. This dance has become a landmark for Gujarati culture and the modern version of Garba can see influences of Dandiya as well. All in all it’s a very fun experience to dance in such peace and harmony.

History

There are around 3 legends related to the origin and roots for Garba. According to the 1^st legend when the demon Mahishasura was ravaging the earth, the Tridev, Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh created Durga maa to kill the demon. Durga fought for 9 days with Mahishasura while killing him in the end. To commemorate this win of good over evil people play garba around the image of Durga and celebrate this victory and also as a respect towards the goddess. The 2^nd legend says that lord ram is said to have performed 9 days of serious meditation to the goddess before going to war with the evil king Ravana. The last legend tells us the story about Usha – the grand daughter in law of Lord Krishna who had popularised Lasya Nritya, which later on came to be known as Garba.

Bhavai

Literally translating into Bhav or feelings this is another one of the major traditional dances in Gujarat. This dance is in the form of a classical folk drama and is performed in local villages and temples by the local communities and tribes of the Bhojakas and the Taragalas. This dance- drama goes on throughout the night and does not require any sort of stage equipment. As a part of their tradition women are not allowed to take part in the drama and the male artists perform the women parts as well. The performances generally tells tales about the problems and challenges faced by the women in the countryside and it is performed in a very fun and enjoyable manner.

History

This folk dance in Gujarat can be traced back to the 14^th century. The story is about how Gang, the daughter of the headman of Unjha, was kidnapped by a Muslim Subedar. Their family priest, a Brahmin, went to the station claiming that Ganga was his daughter. To prove the reality the subedar asked him to eat a meal with Ganga since during those times a Brahmin never used to eat food with people belonging to the lower caste of the society. He had a meal and Ganga was free but later on he was also outcast by the Brahmin communities.