Gujarat Dances

Gujarat is known as the 'Land of Festivals'. A number of fairs and festivals

are celebrated in the state with great fervor and joy. The celebrations of
these occasions are accompanied with traditional dance and music
performances. The state has been blessed with a rich tradition of
performing arts. The various song, dance and drama forms practiced in
Gujarat are famous throughout India. The most fascinating fact of all is that
the origin of these performing arts dates back to the ancient era of Lord
Krishna. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Krishna spent the early days
of his life in Gokul.

Here, he charmed the natives by playing the flute and dancing. He performed Raas Leela with the Gopis, which is
remembered till date. After he became the ruler of Dwarka, he patronized folk songs and dances in his kingdom.
Since, then the Gujaratis have maintained the tradition and preserved the heritage in all its glory. The folk drama
popular in Gujarat is known as Bhavai. Other popular folk dances of Gujarat are Tippani Nritya, Siddi Dance, Padhar
Nritya, Dangi Nritya and local tribal dances.

Dandiya Raas
Dandiya Raas is the most popular dance of Gujarat. The dance is so popular that it is performed not only in the state,
but throughout India. Infact, it is a special feature of the Navratri festival. The festival is celebrated to pay homage to
the nine incarnations of Mata Amb, the Mother Goddess. People observe fasts on all nine days of the festival and pay
regular visits to temples.

Garba Raas
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.

Ras Dance
Ras is one of the popular dance forms of Gujarat. It is derived from the Ras Leela performed by Lord Krishna in
Gokul and Vrindavan. Ras is usually performed by a group of youthful people. They take measured steps and move
in a circle, on the beats of musical instruments, like Dhol, Cymbals, Zanz and Shehnai (Flute). The dancers wear
colorful folk costumes for the dance. Men wear a small coat called Kedia, teamed with a kurta having tight sleeves,
pleated frills at the waist and embroidered borders. They also wear tight trousers, colorful turbans and kamarbandha
(waist band).

GARBA - Gujarati Dance

Garba, the leading dance of women in Gujarat, is associated withthe
fertility cult. For the nine nights of Navaratri, an autumn festival,women
come out into the open and with perforated earthen pots holding lighted
lambs poised on the head sing, clap and dance a simple, circular dance,
in honour of the goddess Amba.

At times men too dance, by singing and clapping,and the dance is known
as Garbi. Traditionally the Garba is intended to be danced only at night
and as a votive offering. In an evolved version,the dance can be
performed for its own sake and at any time.

India, the Tippani is one. It is danced by women labourers in parts of

Saurashtra, to relieve tedium, as part of the beating of the floor with
wooden mallets, in the construction of a house.

Culture of Gujarat

As with other states of India and being ancient historical records, Gujarat is very traditional state. The
inhabitants of Gujarat are very concerned about their value system. They still use their ancient art and
craft techniques with great willpower. People of Gujarat are proud of their customs and traditions and
follow them with greatest enthusiasm. They are very simple and celebrate varied fairs and festivals. Kite
festival, Modhera dance festival, Kutch Utsav, Bhavnath festival Mahashvratri, Holi festival, Chitra-
Vichitra fair are some of the fairs and festivals. Kutch Utsav is another important festival celebrated in the
Kutch region of Gujarat. The tribal people residing in the state have their typical customs and rituals.
Thus, Gujarat has a cultural diversity which is an exceptional attribute of the state. People celebrate
different festival with traditional dance and music performances. This state has a rich tradition of
performing arts. Gujarat is a state of music lovers and has produced some of the best musicians of India
such as musicians Baiju Bawra and Tana Riri..

The people of Gujarat are commonly referred as Gujaratis and the main language spoken is Gujarati.
Most popular dances of Gujarat are Ras and Garba. Some other popular folk dance forms include Tippani
Nritya, Siddi dance, Padhar Nritya, Dangi Nritya and other local tribal dances. Bhavai is the popular folk
drama in Gujarat. Gujarati handicrafts, which are famous worldwide, are also an integral aspect of the
culture of Gujarat. The Arts and Crafts of Gujarat have great significance from aesthetic as well as
business point of view. The main arts and Crafts of Gujarat include embroidery, printing, wood carving,
stone work and jewellery. The Surat based 'zari' industry is extremely popular among all and sundry.
Stitched on silk or satin, the Ari embroidery is an old form of the genre, where an awl is used instead of
the usual needle creating heavy colorful designs. Wood carving is very stylish woodwork, undergoing a
process of laborious etching into country woods creating beautiful designs of animals, trees, flowers on
lamp shades, toys, and showpieces. Also inlay work is done with agate, a varied colored material and
mostly got in Khambhat.

Gujarat is one of the few states that have been successful in preserving its traditional dances and folk culture. There
are many traditional dances that Gujarat boasts of but among them Ras and Garba are the best known around the
country. Most of these traditional folk dances trace their roots back to the nebulous web of mythology. Dances of
Gujarat exude undiluted exuberance and energy, and are most fascinating to watch when seen in their full flavour
and vigour.

The following is a peek into some of the famous dance forms of Gujarat.
  Garba: Garba is the traditional dance form of Gujarat, which is performed during the Navaratri
celebrations.The traditional garbas are performed around an earthenware lamp or an image of the Goddess
Amba. The lamp or the image is placed in the middle, and beautifully and traditionally dressed ladies move
around it in circles, clapping their hands on the beats and singing devotional songs. The dancers sway
gracefully and bend sideways at every step.

 Ras: The Ras is traditionally performed by the men and the Garba is traditionally played by the women. The
Ras is considered as a form of the Ras Leela, which Lord Krishna used to perform at Gokul and Vridanvan.
Lord Krishna is credited with making the dance very popular. The Ras is generally performed by a group of
youths who move in specific steps in a circle, accompanied by a chorus of singing and a large host of
musical instruments. These musical instruments include dhol, cymbals, zanz, and flute. The costume that is
traditionally used for this type of folk dance consists of a small coat called kedia. It is very neatly and highly
embroidered at the borders. There are also the tight trousers which are artistically embroidered. The dancing
costume becomes complete with an embroidered cap or a colourful turban that goes with the waistband.

 Ras Dandiya: This dance may not have a very long and profound history or tradition, but it boasts of huge
popularity during the recent years. Also known as the 'dance with the sticks', it is also performed during the
festival of Navaratri. Here both men and women come together to make a dance circle, holding small
polished colourful sticks called dandiyas. The men and women dance together and swirl to the sweet music
and the rhythm of the dance; men and women strike the dandiyas together, making it a rather sensuous
atmosphere. The Ras dancers are basically the Kathiawari dancers who hail from the northern Gujarati
region of Saurashtra.

For the tourists visiting India, missing these folk dances of Gujarat during the festival of Navaratri would be a great
loss. The tourists cannot understand the dance culture of India if they miss some of these most celebrated dance
forms of Gujarat.