Garba.

   
Women performing Garba.

         Garba is a traditional folk dance which originated at the state of Gujarat in India . Garba is performed during the nine-day hindu festival - Navratri , Holi , Basant Panchami , Sharad panchami and various other festivals . It is a dance form which is performed in circular manner around a "Garbha Deep"(earthenware lamps) or a picture or a statue of Goddess Durga while clapping and singing at the same time . Garba is performed before the Aarati and through this dance form the sanctity and power of Durga or Amba is worshiped .It is believed that Usha the grand daughter-in-law of Krishna is credited to have popularized Lasya Nritya , which is today known by the name of Garba dance.

History of Garba
   
Women dancing with an
earthen pot on their head

    The word garba comes from the Sanskrit word for womb and so implies gestation/pregnancy Traditionally women performed this dance around a clay lantern with a light inside, called a Garbha Deep ("womb lamp"). This lantern represents life, and the fetus in the womb in particular. The dancers thus honor Durga, the feminine form of divinity. It is also believed that Garba dance form is performed in a circular manner as a symbol of the Hindu view of time .As we know that time in Hinduism is cyclical as in the cycle of time revolves from birth , to life , to death and again to rebirth ,the only thing that remains constant is the goddess. The rings created by the dancers while playing garba symbolizes that other than God (here goddess Durga) everything in this universe is going through a change.

           The Garba dance was earlier performed by the females only , they use to keep a pot with lamp inside it on top of their heads. Thereafter, they swing in circles by singing and clapping at regular interval. Now-a-days with growing popularity of this dance form we can see men joining in the garba dance along with the women. Women wear Chaniya choli and Bandhni duppattas with heavy jewellery , whereas , men wear churidar, kehediyu and a turban.

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