Question

Give information about Garba and Garbi of Gujarat.

Answer 1

Garba:

• The word Garba is derived from the word ‘Garbh deep’ i.e. Garbh lamp.
• In this form of dance, the dancers keep an earthen lamp in a holed earthen pot. They keep the pot on their heads and dance by moving around in circle.
• People of entire Gujarat dance on the tunes of Garba during Navratri which is a festival of nine days.
• Navratri as per Hindu calendar is celebrated between ‘Aso Sud Ekam to Aso Sud Navmi or at times upto Dasam’. People also perform this dance during Sharad Pumima.
• Gujarati people perform and sing garba to worship and pray Adhya Shakti (Goddess of Power) mother Jagdamba).
• Generally, people perform Garba in the open ground encircling ‘mataji’s mandvi’. The dancers strike hands and dance on the beats of drums and dhols.
• Gujarati poetry known as Garba and Garbi are basically associated with Krishna-bhakti.
• Gujarati poet Dayaram write several poems based on ‘Radha-Krishna’ love.
• The female singers of Gujarat are mesmerized with these poems and they sing them during Garbas.