During Navaratri, country is in total festive mood. Festive mood in Gujarat has its own aura altogether. While most of North India is busy fasting and worshipping Godess Durga, Kolkata worships Maa Kali. What happens in Gujarat is altogether different! It hosts world’s biggest dance festival. I had made a wish last year to attend dance festival or Garba in Gujarat this year. By chance this year, I got an opportunity to attend the same. The offer was made to me by Gujarat Tourism. I was excited at the offer as I had heard alot about the Garba. Plus I was impressed by costumes of movie Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam most of which was shot in Gujarat.

When we first settled at hotel Grand O7 at the outskirts of Ahmedabad, great curteousy welcomed us in the grand property with delicious food and perfect setting.

After breakfast, we headed to Adalaj Step well ( In Gandhinagar) which is a five storied step well having four rooms at the first floor. Intricate carvings on the walls of windows, steps, pillars and corridors were a delight to see. Motifs were Indo Islamic as initially, the step well was started by Rudabai which was completed by Mahmud Begada ( As mentioned by guide).

Adalaj Stepwell

After Adalaj stepwell, we headed to Dandi Kutir which hosts glimpses of life of Gandhiji. I got tho know so many things about Gandhiji. This place is a must must visit as it tells you about life of Gandhiji in a very smart, sharp and interesting contemporary fashion.

Dandi Kutir

My reaction to Garba in Gujarat

Soon we went to GDMC ground where inauguration of Garba Celebration was to be held It was a grand calebration. Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri. Vijay Rupani inaugurated the ceremony   Hon’ble with Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri. Nitin Patel, Shri. Parimal Nathwani, MP, Jharkhand, Shri. Ganpatsinh Vasava, Minister of Tourism, Government of Gujarat, Shri. Shankar Chaudhary, MoS, Health and Family Welfare, Government of Gujarat, Shri. Pradipsinh Jadeja, Minister of Law, Government of Gujarat, Dr. J.N. Singh, Chief Secretary, Government of Gujarat, Shri. Kamleshbhai Patel, Chairman, Gujarat Tourism, Ambassadors of various countries and many other senior officials of the Gujarat Government.

Inauguration of Garba in Gujarat

Garba in Gujarat

It was followed by award winners of Kabbaddi. Then there was grand dance performance with many artists young ones and adults that danced in vibrant colours with beautiful tunes.
There were many unique dancing postures .

Garba in Gujarat

Girls even danced with 10 matkas on their heads and there was a special dance performance of keeping 50 matkas on the head.

Dance-with-several-matkas-on-head

Several stories were depicted of Mahadev and Parvati, Goddess Durga. It was a must witness performance.

Then came turn of highly energetic dance.

Garba in Gujarat highly energetic dance

Excellent performance

Next day we went to see Buddhist caves 70 kms away from Rajkot. Caves were inhabited by Bats and there were statues of couples that were very soft and a bit eroded. Area was surrounded by greenery all over. On the way was a shop- Jagdish Cotton Stores where I could find good cotton stuff at cheap and highly competitive prices.

In the evening, we went to see Dodhiyu Garba. The whole ambiance was highly energetic and vibrant. Performers were wearing colourful clothes that were glittering. People were dancing non stop to the tunes of Garba.

Dodhiyu Garba

Oh, it was so much rush! Girls were wearing lehnga cholis and shoes.

Ground full of dancers

Boys were also wearing traditional Kurta payjamas with koti and shoes. Shoes were very important as everyone was dancing like mad for hours.

Energy dance

It was like a euphoria. I too danced for a while to feel the feeling!

Dodhiyu Garba in Gujarat

Perfect Gujarati Lehnga Choli dress

After this we went in the residential areas to witness celebrations of Navaratri Garba in Gujarat. It reminded me of Jananashtmi celebrations in residential areas of Delhi. Every street was celebrating Navaratri where little girls and boys were dancing to Garba Tunes.

Dance in Residential areas

Next day we went to see Gondal Palace near Rajkot. It was a royal palace though not very vast but totally matched the modernization with beautifully done drawing room and dining rooms with open verandahs , stairs, cosy rooms and meeting rooms. There was a surprise a luxury train parked fully furnished with beautiful interiors. Palace had beautiful gardens. 

Overall, it was a lovely experience to stay in Ahmedabad and Rajkot to first hand witness Garba in Gujarat in Navaratri, World’s biggest dance festival. I was amazed to see enthusiasm of little girls and boys who were dancing to the tunes of Garba and residents were wide awake till first hour of morning. I was there till 1am almost but know that Garba in Gujarat goes on till 2/3 am.

Disclaimer– The trip to Gujarat was fully sponsored by Gujarat Tourism. But opinions are solely of author’s and in no way biased.

Nidhi KM

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