Garba Raas is a popular folk dance of Gujarat. The dance is said to have an ancient origin. Like the credit for popularizing Ras Leela goes to Lord Krishna, the credit for promoting Garba goes to Usha, the grand daughter-in-law of Shri Krishna. It was earlier known as Lasya Nritya. Ras Garba is a typical dance performed by women in the honor of Ma Jagdambe, the Mother Goddess. It is also performed on festive and religious occasions, like Navratri, Sharad Purnima, Vasant Panchami, Holi, etc. Garba dance is also practiced in other parts of India inhabited by Gujarati community.
Garba derives its name from the word 'Garbhadip', meaning 'a lamp inside an earthen pot'. While performing the dance, pots are carried by women on their heads. They move in circular direction, clapping and singing devotional songs in the praise of the Goddess. At times, the pot is filled with water, with a betel nut and silver coin in it, and is covered with coconut on top. In some other parts of Gujarat, women dance around a perforated earthen pot called Garbo, containing a lamp. For Garba, women usually wear sarees in Gujarati style. |
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