Navratri-2

The Rasa dances of Saurashtra are closely related to agricultural functions and are for the best part grain-ritual dances. They are performed only by men and are often complex circular formations to represent designs of lotus and other designs considered magical religious and auspicious.

The choreographical pattern of the dance, the floor designs made by the dancers, is similar of the paintings seen on the walls of huts. Through these designs whether on the floor or walls, through paint and colour or through dance, ritual is held and spirits are invoked. This is another aspect of the fertility cult. is mother aspect of Navratri. A cloth called Mata ni Pachepi, where the adventures of the seven mothers, is painted. The mother, one of the seven archetypes, is painted in the centre and she is surrounded by her devotees and Bua, the magician-priest. At the end of the month the Bua wraps the cloth around him and sings and dances with Virgin girls carrying pots of sprouted corn finally, the pot at immersed in the waters of a river. In all cases, the object is always either burnt or consigned to the waters. The Rasa follows.

Dandiya Raas

The most impressive artistry of the Rasa dances of Gujarat and Saurashtra is displayed in the Dandiya Rasa by men. It is a counterpart of the Garba of the women. The dancers use sticks at the end of which tiny bells (ghungrus) are tied so that they give off a clear jingling sound when they strike one another. This dance has a very complicated rhythm pattern and even though the dancers begin in a slow tempo, the dance develops in such manner that each person in the circle not only performs a solo dance with his own sticks, but also has a complex multiple relationship with both his partners on either side as also partners opposite him in the circles. The circle keeps breaking sometimes into two concentric circles and sometimes into three or four circles within the orbit of a larger circle.

Garba

The dancers of each concentric circle then weave patterns with each other and with members of the other circle. There is a great deal of freedom in the movements and sticks are beaten in standing, sitting or lying position. Occasionally, the men weave patterns of an intertwined rope in a circle; they lie on the floor with the two sticks being beaten above their heads and chests; sometimes instead of hands, the feet hold and strike the sticks. The Dandiya Rasa is obviously of ancient origin and of ritual significance. From what one can gather from Sanskrit dramas, it became in course of time a popular, and is mentioned in Rajshekhar's Karpur Manjari.

Besides Ahmedabad, tourists can witness the Navratri celebrations at :

Baroda :
110 kms from Ahmedabad, the city of Baroda is famous for the celebrations of Navratri. The Laxmi Vilas palace of Baroda, rated among the 5 grandest palaces of India, is the site for folk dances organised by the royal family of this princely city. Often there are many good hotels in Baroda.
Poshina :
180 kms from Ahmedabad, in the triballands of Sabarkanta, Poshina is where you can see the harvest celebrations of the Garasia and Bhil tribals, besides villagers of the Hindu and Jain faith. There is a heritage hotel at Poshina.
Balaram :
167 kms from Ahmedabad, Balaram is a place of pilgrimage in the Arravalli hills. Between Balaram and Ambaji, tribal women dance on the days of Navratri. There is a palace resort at Balaram.
Ambaji :
180 kms from Ahmedabad, Ambaji is one of the most reversed temples in Gujarat during the 9 days of Navratri. Prayers are performed and dances can be witnessed in the fore-court.
Pawagadh :
Around 70 kms from Ahmedabad, the fortified hilltop temple town of Pawagadh has Kali temples worshipped by thousands of pilgrims during Navratri.
Kutch :
An overnight journey from Ahmedabad, Kutch witnesses colourful tribal and rural fairs during Navratri specially on the 7th-8th days.