What is the meaning of garba and dāṇḍiyā in Gujarati Navarātri?

garba is a circle dance around the Goddess’s lamp, the garbo; dāṇḍiyā rās with sticks recalls Kṛṣṇa’s rāsa — both are worship through joy.

The word garba comes from garbha, womb. At its centre stands the garbo, a clay pot with holes and a lamp burning inside, representing the Goddess as the light within all life. Dancers move in a circle around it, clapping in rhythm, just as life revolves around the divine Mother, Ambā. Many families set up the garbo at home on the first day and keep the lamp burning through the nine nights.

Dāṇḍiyā rās, danced in pairs with decorated sticks, is linked with the playful rāsa of Kṛṣṇa and the gopīs, and some also see in it the Goddess’s battle with Mahiṣāsura. Evenings begin with Ambā’s āratī and end late with music from dhol and folk songs.

Traditional dress is the colourful caṇiyā colī for women and kediyu for men. Many devotees fast during the day and treat the dancing itself as devotion.

Garba from garbha (womb); the garbo holds the lamp · Source: common practice in Gujarat

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