India Heritage - Garba

Garba is a popular folk dance from the State of Gujarat which depicts the rich tradition of song, dance and drama. Just as Lord Krishna popularized the Ras dance, Usha, the grand daughter-in-law of Lord Krishna gets the credit for popularizing the Lasya Nritya, which came to be known as Garba Dance.

It is a circular dance performed by women around an earthenware pot called a garbo, filled with water. A betel nut and a silver coin are placed within the pot, called a kumbh, on top of which a coconut is placed. As the dancers whirl around the pot, a singer and a drummer provide the musical accompaniment. The participants clap in a steady rhythm.

The Garba Nritya is a circular form of dance performed by the women of Gujarat and this dance is performed during Navratri, Sharad Purnima, Vasant Panchami, Holi and other festivals.

The word 'Garba' derives its name after a lamp called Garbhadip, which means the lamp inside the earthern pot.