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auspiciousness and courage. She sits on a times, women from the neighbourhood
donkey gathered to sing bhajans. Sometimes they
MAHAGAURI – Riding an ox, She got so excited, that they started dancing
embodies beauty and women almost unstoppable, like in a trance.
SIDDHIDATRI – Sitting atop a lotus She Slowly it turned into a community activity
is the goddess of supernatural powers and everyone joined in. Even these days,
or ‘siddhis.’ the dancers are almost possessed, because
despite dancing continuously for hours
together every day with cuts, injuries
and bandages on their feet, they don’t
complain.
Starting with slow circular movements,
the tempo slowly builds up to a frenzied
whirling. It has been transmitted across
generations in urban and rural areas
through practice and performance. The
dance fosters socio-economic equality,
gender disparity and religious structures.
It is inclusive of diverse and marginalized
communities too. It’s a cultural celebration
unparalleled in sheer size. There are
fairs and carnivals around the world but
The mood of the 9 nights of revelry and nothing compares with the vibrant colours
celebration leads to the eve of Vijaya and festive mood of these nine nights.
Dashmi when the Goddess Durga is said Many types of folk dances of Gujarat are
to have defeated the demon Mahisasura. included like the raas and gope – which is
At times a woman takes on a form of the associated with the play of Lord Krishna
mother goddess and dances vigorously with the gopis. Raas is a favourite with
carrying a heavy bamboo mandvi (like a the pastoral communities like the Ahirs
portable shrine) on her head. and Bharwads. Navratri also signifies the
This activity has monsoon harvest.
been traced back In villages,
to more than five the Garbi
hundred years, but would be kept
the current form is in the village
roughly from 1910. square and
Garba singing men, women
is primarily and children
devotional songs, would sing
sung in praise and dance in
of the Goddess. circles around
According to one it ending late
source, in olden in the night

SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #64 | OCTOBER 2024 33