Garba Dance

About:

• Garba is a dance form native to the Indian state of Gujarat, performed in October to honour the Hindu Deity of Divinity, Goddess Durga
• It is a joyful style of dance, based on a circular pattern and characterized by a sweeping action from side to side.
• Garba performances often include singing and a musical accompaniment traditionally provided by dhol (double-headed drum) and the similar but smaller dholak; hand clapping; and assorted metallic idiophones, such as cymbals.
• Garba dances celebrate fertility, honour womanhood, and pay respect to any of an array of mother goddesses.
• In Gujarat the dances customarily mark a girl’s first menstrual cycle and, later, her imminent marriage. Garba dancing also takes place during the nine-day Navratri festival.