Dance & Devotion

Gujarat Erupts In Celebration In The Nine Days Of Navratri

It is that time of the year—time to give thanks to the Goddesses Amba/Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. In Gujarat, Navratri celebra-tions are most sacred. These nine days are filled with fun, dance, devotion, music and, of course, a pledge of thanks to the trio.

THE CELEBRATIONS

The celebrations begin on the first night with an elaborate aarti. Flamboyantly dressed women circle the idol of Amba, the Mother Goddess, with a pitcher containing the sacred flame (embodying the divine energy—shakti) balanced firmly upon their heads. Once this is completed, it’s time for the devotees to step up their dance game in the forms of garba and dandiya—both intrinsic in worship of the Goddesses. Even though the music and dancing today seem to be inspired by the Hindi film industry, these are moments of heightened spirituality and intense devotion.

What was once a small community ritual in the various mohallas across Gujarat, the Navratri puja has been adopted by the state tourism department as an instrument for promoting its culture the world over. The festivities, increasingly a huge tourist draw, are ticketed affairs serving up a profusion of carnival delights that include dance competitions, exhibitions and melas awash with food and local craft stalls.

THE NINE NIGHTS