NAVRATRI
Held In: September/October.
Significance: Worship Of Goddess.
Navratri, meaning 'nine nights', is an
ancient and colourful festival. It honors the one divine 'Shakti' or
Force, which supports the entire universe, and is personified as the
Mother Goddess. She protects her worshippers, destroys evil and grants
boons to her children. The mother Goddess has seven well-known forms,
depending upon the special powers she manifests. Throughout Gujarat,
Navratri is celebrated with joy and religious fevour.
The Festivity
This festival is essentially religious in nature. It is celebrated with
true devotion in the various temples dedicated to the Mother, or 'Mataji',
as she is familiarly called. In some homes, images of the Mother are
worshipped in accordance with accepted practice. This is also true of the
temples which usually have a constant stream of visitors from morning to
night, another interesting feature of Navratri is the Garba, a circular
dance performed by women around an earthen ware pot called a "Garbo",
filled with water.
A betel nit and a silver coin are placed within the pot, called a "Kumbh",
on top of which a coconut has also been placed. As the dancers whirl
around the pot, a singer and a drummer provide the musical accompaniment.
The participants clap in a steady rhythm.
Nowadays, loudspeakers are used to enhance the sound, which grows to a
crescendo. The dance usually starts slowly. It gets faster and faster as
the music too gets more rapid, until the dance abruptly comes to a halt.
There is a pause for a while and the dance commences once again, the
singer leading with a new song.
Another dance, which is also a feature of Navaratri, is the "Dandia-Ras"
or 'stick' dance, in which men and women join the dance circle, holding
small polished sticks or Dandias. As they whirl to the intoxicating rhythm
of the dance, men and women strike the Dandias together, adding to the
joyous atmosphere.
So popular are the Garba and the Dandia-Ras that competitions are held to
assess the quality of the dancing. Prizes are given to those judged to be
the best. The costume worn for the dances are traditional and alive with
colour. The dances usually commence late in the night and continue until
early morning, testifying to their great popularity.
NAVRATRI AT AHMEDABAD
While the basic celebrations are alive and joyous, as they are elsewhere,
at Ahmedabad the Garba parties are enormous. In large public squares group
of musicians sing the traditional Garba songs. A Bhajan singer with a
Harmonium sings into a microphone. In crowded localities, where open space
is not available, the Garba ceases to be a circular dance but instead
becomes a long line of people, comprising both men and women moving in
accordance with the turns and bends of the street. The scene is truly
fantastic.
NAVRATRI IN BARODA
Baroda is a well-known centre of music and culture, and many streets have
their own Garba Mandals, or Garba groups. A Bhavai performance is held at
Baroda's Ambaji temple, during Navratri. Many other places within Gujarat
have their own local customs ad celebrate Navratri in their own special
way
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