AHMEDABAD, July 22, 2013: Gujarat boasts of the longest dance festival in the world in the form of Navratri. One of its most exquisite exports is garba - the ever-evolving folk dance that gains fans wherever it travels. However, this gem of local culture is not immune to the twin waves of globalization and modernization. Gujarat might be losing the true spirit of Navratri thanks to 'trendier' westernized outfits, fusion music and larger-than-life venues.

Amidst the glitz, have we lost the soul of the festival - worship of feminine power? This question induced Purnima Shah, associate professor at Duke University in the US, to explore the roots of goddess worship in Gujarat, resulting in a documentary titled 'Dancing with the Goddess.' Shah, a classical dancer trained in the city, has explored more than 10-old and new garba traditions in this documentary. The question she raises is whether these traditions will live to see another decade.

"Earlier, every region of the state had a very distinct style of garba that stemmed from goddess worship. One can tell the dance forms apart on the basis of the music, beats and of course, the dance steps," Shah said.

During her visit, she found that most of the places she visited had come under the spell of modernity as music systems drowned out the beats of traditional dhol. "I don't want to criticize change. It's the natural course of progression. However, does what we do during Navratri today represent the diverse traditions the state has?" she said adding that her motive was to document these traditions before they were lost in time.

She cites the example of the traditional dance of Ahir women at Ratnal in Kutch. "Only the old women were able to do the intricate dance steps and hand movements. This dance is done on specific beats provided by a dhol. According to the locals, there is only one such dhol player who can play the required. Once he is gone, the form will breathe its last. Likewise, the sword dance by Rajuts at Bhadreshwar will be gone after its last expert takes his last bow," she said.

Unique dance forms showcased in the documentary

Ratnal, Kutch

Mer women perform garba with intricate steps on the beats of drums. While the old timers remember eight to ten variations and a string of songs, today the last of the dholis has survived. Nobody from the new generation is ready to learn either the dance or the music. Interestingly, it is the same community that worships Yashoda mata during Janmashtami to get a child like Lord Krishna.

Bhadreshwar, Kutch

Many martial tribes, especially Rajputs, used to perform special prayers to the family deity (kul devi) before leaving for the battlefield. Jadejas of Kutch used to perform a type of sword dance where the charan sings of bravery and glory of the ancestors and motivates the warriors as the brahmin blesses the battlefield-bound youth. Only one elder in the village now knows the exact moves and only one dholi can provide the exact beats.

Jala ni Jar, Jamnagar

Considered to be formed by one of the devotees of Jalaram, Ishwar Vivah is a dance form that describes the divine marriage of Shiva and Shakti, lasting for four and a half hours. Hundreds of men gather in a small square and keep moving in rhythm wearing traditional unstitched clothes, singing the Gujarati rendition in a stylized manner. It is generally observed on the last day of Navratri. Locals believe the tradition to be more than 150 years old.

Dwarka, Jamnagar

Gugli Brahmins of Dwarka carry out a procession of an ancient garbi that is decked with flowers and sing paeans of the Navdurga, nine forms of the feminine power worshipped by the devotees. The devotees also form maand (pyramid-shaped structure decked with flowers having nine sides) and prefer reading ancient Sanskrit text. This worship is unique to this particular community.

Ghogha, Bhavnagar

Kolis living in coastal area of Bhavnagar perform fast-moving garba and also have hamchi, a rhythmic move of shoulders and hips resembling pounding grains. It is dedicated to Randal Maa, associated with fertility and good health.

Mehsana

Some parts of the districts observe women dancing with maand on their heads decked with flowers. Earlier, there used to be wooden structures that used to be dismantled after the Navratri. But now more and more prefer metal ones that can be used again. The structure has idol of Shakti in the middle. The dance is considered to be a thanksgiving to the deity for blessing them with a child.
 

Source: The Times of India, DT. July 22, 2013.