Page 32 - SeniorsToday October
P. 32
Lifestyle
9 Nights of Extravaganza
All photos by Malti Gaekwad
Last December the biggest news going around was; “Gujarat Garba Enters
UNESCO’S List of Intangible Cultural Heritage”, writes Malti Gaekwad
GARBA - The dance form celebrates Devi Durga is celebrated with great
fertility, honours womanhood and pays enthusiasm in different parts of the
respect to all nine forms of the mother country in her nine forms known as
Goddess. The word Garba originated from Navdurga.
the Sanskrit word garbh meaning ‘womb’ The nine nights are dedicated to:
– implying gestation or pregnancy. Garba SHAILPUTRI – The daughter of
traditionally is a perforated earthen pot mountain, She sits on a Nandi
called garbi, which is illuminated from BHRAMCHARINI – Mother of devotion
inside with a diya. This pot is placed in and penance, in a saintly form
the centre and women dance around it. CHANDRAGHANTA – Destroyer of
Scholars say that the fire is a symbol demons, She sits on a tiger
of fertility. It is lit as a tribute to the KHUSHMANDA – She is the goddess of
female power of Shakti. It is also called cosmic energy
garbhadeep and represents the foetus SKANDMATA – The goddess of
in the womb. The dancers thus honour motherhood and children, She sits on a lion
Durga – the feminine form of the divinity. KATYAYAINI – Taking the form of a
The circular motion of the dance is said to warrior, She is the goddess of power
symbolize life. KAALRATRI – The goddess of
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