Patna: Navratri is being celebrated with great enthusiasm across the country. For nine days, people worship the nine forms of Goddess Durga with prayers, fasting and devotion. In the evenings, streets and grounds come alive with music and dance. The most popular dances of this festival are Garba and Dandiya Raas. Both are loved not only in Gujarat, where they started, but also across India and in Indian communities around the world. Many people think Garba and Dandiya are the same, but they are actually different in style, meaning and timing.
Dandiya Raas, or simply Dandiya, is the more energetic of the two. It is often called the “sword dance” because the colourful sticks used in this dance represent swords. Each dancer holds two decorated sticks and dances with a partner or in a group, striking the sticks together in rhythm. The music is fast and lively, and the dance is full of energy and fun. Dandiya is usually performed late at night and is a way to celebrate the victory of good over evil.
Garba, on the other hand, is slower and more graceful. The word “Garba” comes from the Sanskrit word for womb and represents the cycle of life. People form a big circle and dance around an earthen pot with a lamp inside or around an idol of the goddess. The steps involve clapping, turning and moving rhythmically to devotional songs. Women wear colourful chaniya cholis, and men wear kediyus, making the event bright and beautiful. Garba is usually performed before midnight and has a more devotional feeling.
The main differences are easy to spot. Garba is done without sticks and is slower, while Dandiya uses sticks and is faster. Garba focuses on prayer and the cycle of life, while Dandiya shows the fight between Goddess Durga and Mahishasura. Together, these two dances bring both devotion and joy to Navratri nights and are a big reason why this festival is so loved.
