Garbā: The divine dance that celebrates the miracle of life


Garbā is a powerful expression in the form of dance that honours, worships and celebrates the feminine form of divinity. Through this dance, devotees convey their devotion, love and gratitude to the devi/maa (Mother), who symbolises strength and protection. It is a celebration of the divine feminine, urging us to confront and destroy the evil that resides both within and around us.

Garbā: The divine dance that celebrates the miracle of life
Garbā: The divine dance that celebrates the miracle of life

The terms Garbā and Dāndia Rāsa are often used interchangeably. They are different. Garbā refers to the sacred hymns sung in Devi’s honour. Garbā is performed around a murti of Mā Ambe beside which a perforated clay pot (lantern) with a Diyā (light) inside is placed. The clay pot symbolises a womb (Garbha) and the light emanating from the jyoti symbolises life growing within (Garbha Dīpa– womb lamp). The garbha deep has another symbolic interpretation. The vessel symbolises the body, within whom divinity (in the form of the Goddess or Devi) resides. Garbā is danced around this symbol to honour the fact that all humans have the divine energy of Devi within them.

Garbā, derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Garbha’, meaning ‘womb’, is a symbolic celebration of life’s eternal cycle, birth, and rebirth.  The circular formation of the dance itself holds deep spiritual meaning. Devotees move around the image of Goddess Durgā, representing the Divine Feminine energy, the Śaktī. The circle represents the Hindu view of time. Time is cyclical. As the cycle of time revolves, from birth to life to death to rebirth, the only constant thing is the Goddess, an unmoving symbol in the midst of all of this unending and infinite movement. The dance symbolises that the supreme being, Bhagvān, represented in feminine form in this case, is the only thing that remains unchanging in a constantly changing universe.

Interestingly, a similar clay pot is used for the ‘ghat sthāpanā’ for Durgā Pūjā celebrations across North India.

The entire atmosphere becomes increasingly euphoric with the increase in the pace of music, even for those observing strict ‘upwas’ (fasts) who may have work the next day. Throughout Gujarat, every street comes alive to the beats of Garbā during these nine nights. Each region in Gujarat has its own distinct Garbā steps and movements. The Nāgar community of Gujarat celebrates a unique form called ‘Bethe Garbā,’ meaning seated Garbā. In this tradition, devotees gather in small groups at someone’s home to perform Garbā, focusing primarily on Sādhanā (spiritual practice) and Stuti (praise), with a small Garbā performance afterwards. This tradition began in Junagarh during the Islamic rule when the Nizam prohibited public Hindu celebrations.

Rāsa is another captivating dance performed during Navrātri, widely recognised for its connection to Bhagvān Kṛṣṇa and his Rāsa Līlā. The term ‘Dāndia’ refers to the decorated bamboo sticks that devotees hold in each hand. Rāsa, like Garbā, is a high-energy dance, and through its performance, devotees symbolically reenact the fierce battle Mā Ambe fought against Mahiṣāsur, with the sticks representing the devi’s swords and the surrounding grounds symbolising the battlefield. An intriguing variation is the Talwār Rāsa, performed by women in Gujarat’s Rajkot district, where they use swords instead of sticks. Recently, they set a world record with this unique performance.

Unfortunately, the perils of so-called modernisation have also had their toll on this divine Garbā and Dāndia Rāsa as they crossed the boundaries of the Gujarati community in the late 90’s and got influenced by Bollywood. Garbā has taken on a more commercialised and so-called modern devolved twist. People now often dance to Bollywood songs, mixing popular music with traditional steps. While the essence of community gathering and joy remains, the spiritual aspect has become diluted for many. The shift from folk songs praising and glorifying the deities to chart-topping Bollywood tracks highlights a change in cultural priorities, as festivals become more about entertainment and socialising than their original sacred purpose. 

Navrātri is a time to draw inspiration from Mā Durgā, encouraging us to be unwavering in our stand against injustice and adharma. Navrātri, literally meaning “nine nights,” is the Hindu festival dedicated to Durgā—the feminine form of divinity and her nine forms, from the fierce sword-wielding Kālarātri to the smiling creator of the universe Kuśmāṇḍā. It is a period of self-purification, where we rid ourselves of any negativity that may have seeped into our thoughts, minds, and society. This sacred festival reinforces the timeless truth that good will always prevail over evil.