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The most famous Navratri celebrations are held in Gujarat and Maharashtra in the form of Dandiya and Garba dances.

The dancers move around in a circle, with different steps around a lamp, which represent the Eternal Light of the Durga Mata.

Generally Gujarati women dance around the circles by clapping their hands or decorated sticks to the rhythm of the devotional songs.

Origin of Garba

As per the Mahabharata, on the Full Moon Day Purnima of the month of Bhadrapad (Bhadarva Mas) Princess Rukshamani worshiped her Kul-Devi Mata Ambica on Gabbar Hill, in order to invite her beloved Lord Krishna, to abduct her from her Swayamvar. Mata Ambica did gave her a boon to achieve her goal to marry Lord Krishna.

Princess Rukshamani, then, married Lord Krishna and became Pat-Rani (Main Queen) and celebrated Navratri, for the first time on this earth, by doing Garbh-Deep Nrutya with her friends & relatives in Dwarka.

Garbo

Moving around a circle in a Garbo, indicate the never-ending cycle of creation, maintenance and destruction phases of supreme reality. So now you know what you'll depict when dancing the Garba!

A 'Garbo' is an earthen pot with holes all around and 'Light' within which signifies knowledge. The word Garbo seems to have originated from the word 'Garbha Deep', meaning a Light in the inner sanctum of the temple.

In the villages of Gujarat, the Garbo is placed in the centre and brightly dressed ladies move around it singing and and playing a dance form called Garba.

The concept of Garbo is related to microcosm (smaller analysis ) and macrocosm ( larger analysis).

Microcosm : An earthen pot with holes, through which a flickering light shines through is similar to the human body (an earthen pot) with inner light of god within.

Macrocosm : The Universe of ours is as an earthen pot and light (Sun, Sakti) energy of the supreme reality shining through.

Garba Raas Dance

Gujarat, during the 9th century, was divided into four regions-Saurashtra, Kachchh, Aanarta and Laat (south Gujarat). Raas, Garba, Hudo, Tippani are the dance forms of Saurashtra, while Dangi of Dharampur and Holi Nritya from Kawant are attributed to Laat. Garba, Garbi and Bhavai are the dances from Aanarta (north Gujarat), while Siddi Dhamal, Matukadi, Ged-do are original dances of Kachchh.

Garba:

Garba Dance is a popular folk Dance of Gujarat. A graceful, rather unique dance associated with the raas lila of Krishna and the gopis (female cowherds). It is believed that Lord Krishna popularized the Ras dance, Usha, the grand daughter-in-law of Lord Krishna gets the credit for popularizing the Lasya Nritya, which came to be known as Garba Dance. This dance is performed by ladies on the Navaratri days, Sharad Purnima, Vasant Panchami, Holi and such other festive occasions. The word Garba is derived from the word Garbha Deep meaning a lamp inside a perforated earthen pot. The light inside the perforated earthen pot symbolised the embryonic life. In this folk dance, ladies place the pot with the lamp on their heads and move in circles, singing in time measure by clapping their palms or snapping their fingers, to the accompaniment of folk instruments. Formerly associated with the legend of Krishna, Garbha is now a regular feature during the Navratri puja (nine nights in honor and worship of the goddess Durga).

Garba songs are mostly in praise of Mother Goddess Amba describing her form, powers, and invoking her blessings. Also there are Garbas describing seasons and social themes of domestic ends and married life.

Musical accompaniments to Garba are Damru, Tabla, Nagara, pot drum, percussion, Ektaro, Ravan hattho, Jantar, Pavo, shehani, murli, turi, and taturi.

Raas

Raas which is supposed to belong to Kutch and Saurashtra is performed all over Gujarat. The rasa traditions are as old as the Puranic period. In various parts of the country, Rasa are danced in different manners. The main feature of Rasa is dancing in a circle by men and woman, to the accompaniment of musical instruments and keeping  time either by clapping or beating of two sticks. The number of dancers go from 8,16, 32  up to 64 couples, who also sing the song. There are three varieties of Rasaka described.

1. Danda Rasaka-Rasa dance where Danda or sticks are used.

2. Mandala  or Tala Rasaka-Rasa  dance where clapping is used.

3. Lata Rasaka-Rasa dance where dancers cling to each other  and dance like a creeper to a tree.

Raas Nritya is a form of dance performed by lord Krishna with Gopikas. The Dandia variety of the Raas Nritya of Gujarat is generally performed by a group of youthful persons, both males and females, who move in circles to measured steps, beating time with small sticks (called dandia) singing to the accompaniment of Dhol, Cymbals, Zanz, flute or Shehnai. Now a days Dandia variety or Danda Rasaka is most popular dance form which is performed by the dancers during the Navratri and is popularly known as Dandiya Raas.

The Gof variety of the raas is an intricate performance wherein the performers holding coloured strings attached to a top, move in circles weaving and unweaving different patterns.

The Mers of Saurashtra are known for their folk dance called the Mer Raas. White shepherds  perform what is called the Gher Raas. The Gheria Raas is a dance performed by the agriculturists of south Gujarat.

Tippani: There are certain folk dances which typically represent the community activities and their functional aspect. The Tippani folk dance is a dance of such a variety in which women labourers engaged in construction work, strike the floor with long sticks called Tippani. They have a rhythmic musical process to escape the tedium of the toil involved in their arduous task. The tribes in Gujarat have their own virile forms of the folk dances.

Hallisaka a group dance, in the Harivamsa Purana is very significant. This is a group dance, in a circular formation with the hands joined together forming a chain. The time (Tala) is kept by clapping and is accompanied by singing. A young man (Krishna) stands in the middle of the damsels. The feet movements, toes, heels and legs first start their journey to explore rhythmic expression measured steps, long, short, quick, and slow accompanied in single, double and triple timings.

Dangi Nrita: The Gangis are unique tribals, a blend of Gujarati  and Maharashrian culture mixed harmoniously with original Dravidians. The dance performed by Dangis is called Dangi Nritya. Men and women join hands forming a chain or shrinkala making serpentine movements with one of them leading. The movements is very fast, swift and create various choreographic patterns in a fraction of a second. Each variety of step is called 'Chala' and there are about 27 varieties of these chalas. One of the most amazing sights of this dance is the creation of a human pyramid.

Hudo: It is the dance of the Bharwads, the shepherd community. The idea of the dance originated from sheep fights. The movements of two sheep ramming their heads is duplicated in the dance in which the dancers clap hands in a forceful and rhythmic manner. More than dance it is considered as a folk game which is played at Tarnetar and other fairs. The young men and women try to match their guts and strength with each other. While playing Hudo they sing songs of love.

Dholi Nritya

Originally the drummer who hailed from the scheduled Caste of Bhangi had the sole monopoly to play the drum on marriage occasions in a village.

The Dhol Players of Chorwad turned this into an organised form of folk dance. There are three players in which the middle player dances with the drum and the other two supply the rythmic beats in all variations. The rhythm changes from a slow tempo to a faster me and what three of them dance together the drums produce a thanderous rhythm. The stick is tied with which they nimbly tone the movement of the feet with which they keep time. The audience is held spellbound by sheer tempo, rythmic roar of the drums and fast footwork.

Manjira Nritya or Padhar Nritya

Manjira Nritya is a peculiar type of folk dance of Padhaar community of Bhalnalkantha region. They entice us with heart rending display of Raas played along with jingling music of Manjira with precision and skill.

In this dance,padhaars sit in circular positin with legs stretched. Musical instruments like Ektaro, Tabla, players give "Tal" to other instruments. Dancers continue playing with Manjira with varieties of actions and modes by getting up, sitting, standing, turning, taking fudadi and playing manjira with feet fingers by raising legs vertically.

In Saurashtra, Bhajanika have mastery over the art of playing manjira. They play manjira while singing Bhajans and get absorbed in singing.

In Rajasthan this type of dance is known as "Tera Tal". Here, four to five women sit with streched legs, tie thirteen manjira right from toe to feet fingers upto arms covering all limbs and play manjira and dance with tal and rhythm.

Dharampur: A dance which derives its name from the area. A tribal dance in which men paint their bodies and dance with weapons. Women join in dressed in colorful outfit.

Holi Nritya: A dance performed during Holi by the tribals of the eastern ghats of Gujarat. The dancers are dressed in peacock feathers on their head and waist and dance through the streets.
Siddi Dhamal: A unique dance style of Kachchh. The dancers dance with two thin sticks exhibiting their art and skill while dancing.

Ged-Do: Dance forms in this style of dance from Kachchh exhibit a complicated footwork by moving in a peculiar style akin to the movement of a horse in the game of chess. The dance also has a peculiar drum beat.

Matukadi: A female dance form from Gujarat, it is a very graceful one in which the dancers dance in a circular form in pairs.

Vasant Navratri

Navratri or Navratra festival is celebrated twice in a year. Once in spring season which is called Chaitra Navratri or Vasanth Navratri or Spring Navratri.

Vasanth Navratri is also known as Ram Navratri because Ram Navami falls on the nine day of Chaitra. This Spring Navratri or Vasanth Navratri festival is dedicated to Mother Gauri or Parvati.

Legend of celebrating Vasanth Navratri

According to the legend of Devi Bhagwata, King Dhruvasindu of Kosala was killed by a lion during one of his hunting expeditions. Next Preparations were made to crown the prince Sudarsana. But, King Yudhajit of Ujjain, the father of Queen Lilavati, and King Virasena of Kalinga, the father of Queen Manorama, were each desirous of securing the Kosala throne for their respective grandsons. They fought with each other. King Virasena was killed in the battle. Manorama fled to the forest with Prince Sudarsana and a eunuch. They took refuge in the hermitage of Rishi Bharadwaja.

The victor, King Yudhajit, thereupon crowned his grandson, Satrujit, at Ayodhya, the capital of Kosala. He then went out in search of Manorama and her son. The Rishi said that he would not give up those who had sought protection under him. Yudhajit became furious. He wanted to attack the Rishi. But, his minister told him about the truth of the Rishi's statement. Yudhajit returned to his capital.

Fortune smiled on Prince Sudarsana. A hermit's son came one day and called the eunuch by his Sanskrit name Kleeba. The prince caught the first syllable Kli and began to pronounce it as Kleem. This syllable happened to be a powerful, sacred Mantra. It is the Bija Akshara (root syllable) of the Divine Mother. The Prince obtained peace of mind and the Grace of the Divine Mother by the repeated utterance of this syllable. Devi appeared to him, blessed him and granted him divine weapons and an inexhaustible quiver.

The emissaries of the king of Benares passed through the Ashram of the Rishi and, when they saw the noble prince Sudarsana, they recommended him to Princess Sashikala, the daughter of the king of Benares.

The ceremony at which the princess was to choose her spouse was arranged. Sashikala at once chose Sudarsana. They were duly wedded. King Yudhajit, who had been present at the function, began to fight with the king of Benares. Devi helped Sudarsana and his father-in-law. Yudhajit mocked Her, upon which Devi promptly reduced Yudhajit and his army to ashes.

Thus Sudarsana, with his wife and his father-in-law, praised Devi. She was highly pleased and ordered them to perform her worship with havan and other means during the Vasanta Navratri. Then she disappeared.

Prince Sudarsana and Sashikala returned to the Ashram of Rishi Bharadwaja. The great Rishi blessed them and crowned Sudarsana as the king of Kosala. Sudarsana and Sashikala and the king of Benares implicitly carried out the commands of the Divine Mother and performed worship in a splendid manner during the Vasanta Navratri.

Sudarsana's descendants, namely, Sri Rama and Lakshmana, also performed worship of Devi during the Vasanta Navratri and were blessed with her assistance in the recovery of Sita.

Why Vasanth Navratri is celebrated?

The reason stated for celebrating Vasanth Navratri is given as

• To welcome the seasonal changes because other celebrations of the year starts with Vasanth Navratri.
• To worship the divine power of Shakti that was started by our ancestors.

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