Navaratri is one of the most celebrated festivals, specifically in Gujarat. It is a celebration of nine nights which is full of devotion, music and dance. Garba and dandiya ras are performed in traditional garba dance. It is vibrant festival.
The Dances of Navratri

There are two major dances that are performed during Navratri.
The first dance is the Garba which is performed in a circle. The dance is performed either around a lamp or around the image of a Goddess. The circle symbolizes change as well as the circle of life.
The second dance is the Dandiya Ras which is a more energetic way of dancing and it is performed with decorative sticks, more commonly known as dandiyas. Similar to how Radha and Krishna danced, dandiya is played either in pairs or groups. Some people state that it showcases a mock war between Mahishasura and Goddess Durga.
Basic Steps of Garba
When you are dancing for Garba, you need to flow with the other people. It is a dance which promotes grace. In this dance, you are required to dance and clap in a rhythmic manner. The dance consists of circular movements. These movements can be easy to do in the beginning but they get more complex and tricky which only professional Garba dancers can achieve.
First, you have to put your right foot on your right side. Then bring your left foot near your right foot after which you need to clap in between. Then bring your left foot to your left side, bring your right foot to meet the left side and clap one more time. All you need to do is repeat this movement in a continuous circular fashion as the beat of the music progresses.
You may make this dance more dynamic stepping to the right with your right foot, tapping your left foot behind your right and once again stepping to your right. After that you need to clap twice which will make your dance more attractive and add a layer of energy to it.
How to play Dandiya

In order to play dandiya, you need to remember eight counts. At first you should go to the right and strike the right stick with your partner’s. Then you need to step to the left and strike the left stick of your partner. After that, all you have to do is clap your own sticks, move to the next partner and repeat the dancer. This results in a flowing circular movement with lots of energy. Make sure to stay on your toes throughout the process.
After you are adequate with the simple steps, you can try the complex dandiya dance. In this dance, you have to do the first two strikes as is. Then take a 360 degrees turn, strike your sticks twice on mid turn and face your partner on count five.
In conclusion, Navratri in Gujarat is not just a festival, it is a celebration of good over evil which happens for nine nights and represents the high quality of Gujarati culture. After you learn these simple Garba and dandiya steps, you will easily be able to spin and dance your way in these nights of festivity. The best tip is that you have to start small and focus on completely enjoying the rhythm. You must consistently practice your steps and you will be a professional Garba dancer. Even if you attend one Garba night, you will get a good taste of how these dances function and how beautiful the function looks.
Author
Shreeja Mukherjee