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The dandyia raas dance during the Navratri evenings.
The evenings are usually reserved for the fascinating and colourful dance ritual call 'garba' or 'dandya raas' which is a more vibrant and colourful form of Durga Maa worship.
Garba is normally performed in a graceful circular fashion around the ‘mandvi’ by women wearing colourful embroidered choli, ghagra and bandhani dupattas together with dazzling jewellery.
Hemantbhai Chauhan, the singer
These dancers whirl with the rhythmic movements of their arms to the musical accompaniment of a singer and other musicians.
Religious, devotional and folk songs are performed throughout the evening.
Towards the end of the garbas, it is usual to perform a special prayer call ‘aarti’ to invoke Goddess Durga Maa’s blessings.
Dandya Raas or the so called ‘stick dance’ normally follows after the ‘aarti’. Both men and women can join in with this dance which involves holding a pair of colourfully decorated sticks or dandiyas.
The circular movements of the dandyia raas are slightly more complex as compared to the garba dance.
Here, each dancer gracefully strikes the dandyias of his respective partner with the rhythm of the music.
