Dances of gujarat

Gujarat has successfully preserved its rich tradition of song, dance and drama. The best known among these are the Ras and Garba. Folk drama in Gujarat is known as Bhavai. Most of the art traditions trace back their origin to the ancient period of Lord Krishna.

Garba

The word Garba comes from the word "Garbha Deep", meaning a Light in the inner sanctum of the temple, signifying knowledge (light), as opposed to the darkness (ignorance). In the villages of Gujarat, one would find tradition of a "Light" (Deevo-Kodiyun) in an earthen pot with the holes all around, placed in the center on a stool and brightly dressed ladies move around it clapping their hands in beats and singing Mataji's songs (known as Garba).  A betel nut and a silver coin are placed within the pot, called a kumbh, on top of which a coconut is placed.  Just as Lord Krishna popularized the Ras dance, Usha the grand daughter-in-law of Lord Krishna is credited to have popularised Lasya Nritya which is known today by the name of Garba Dance.  The Garba is traditionally performed during the festival of Navratri ("Nine Nights").

Ras

The Ras dance is considered a form of Ras Leela, which Lord Krishna used to perform at Gokul and Vrindavan. The Ras is simple and is generally performed by a group of youthful people who move in measured steps around a circle, accompanied by a singing chorus and a host of musical instruments like the dhol, cymbals, zanz, shehnai (flute). The typical folk costume for this dance is a small coat called kedia, with tight sleeves and pleated frills at the waist with highly embroidered borders, tight trousers, colourfully embroidered cap or coloured turban and colourful kamarbandha (cummerbund).

Dandia - Ras

Also known as the 'stick' dance, this is another form of dance that is also a feature of Navratri. Here, men and women join the dance circle, holding small polished sticks or dandias. As they whirl to the intoxicating rhythm of the dance, men and women strike the dandiyas together, adding to the joyous atmosphere. The best Ras dancers are the Kathiawari Ras dancers, who hail from the Saurashtra region.

Music of Gujarat

Gujarat has its own heritage in music. Saurashtra has been very prosperous in its variety and colorfulness of folk-music. The people of north Gujarat, Charotar, South Gujarat, the mariners of western coast and the tribals of eastern forests too have lived with their music. They have developed and preserved their own instruments like flutes, drums, trumpets, manjira, tamboor, ravanhattha etc. The devotional songs, lyrics, verses, dance-songs, duha, chhand and the songs for different occasions are a treasure. People sing their songs while at work or while at rest. The traditions of Charans, Gadhavis, Ravals and the Bhajaniks are still very much alive. Gujarat has given outstanding artists and exponents of vedic saamgan, Haveli-sangeet and classical Indian music.

The folk Music

The charani folk-songs, duha, chhand etc are a part of folk-music. The saints and devotees of Gujarat have woven the teachings of the Vedas and the Upanishadas in their devotional songs. They have helped dissolving the differences of caste, creed and colour. The bhajans of Abhram Bhagat have reached London. The voice of Ismail Valera had lured lot many people. Folk-music includes variety of occasions and songs befitting the same. Songs specially meant for recital at morning, evening, marriage, child-birth, festival songs, war-time and death-time songs, story-telling and season songs and number of other occasions are celebrated or marked with specific type of folk-songs and folk-music. Many of such songs were compiled by Meghani and Raichura. 

The Light Music

Light music or Sugam Sangeet is in a way a derivation of all the streams into a popular format. Meaningful and lyrically worded poetry is composed in sweet tunes, where the tight standards of classical music are not must, but the images of light music do depend on classical touch. Avinash Vyas played a pivotal role in laying the strong foundations of light music and also popularising it in Gujarat. He wrote hundreds of songs for Gujarati movies and decorated them with sweet tunes. Kshemu Divetia, Rasiklal Bhojak, Bhailal Barot, Raasbihari Desai, Gaurang Vyas and some other artists have been strengthening the basis of light music in Gujarat either with compositions or with words, or with their voice. The world of light music in Gujarat is very prosperous in its singers. It is hard to find a parallel to the excellence of Kaumudi Munshi in light music. 

The Classical Music

Aryan culture spread throughout the country, including Gujarat after the Aryan people came to this land. prabhas and Bhrigu Kutch (Bharuch) were important centres of the Aryan age. Many Rishis established their Ashram at these centres. The Rigveda, the Yajurveda, the Saamveda and the Atharvaveda were taught at these Ashrams. The Saamveda deals with music. The verses of the Rigveda are recited in musical notes in the Saamveda. It is the origin of the Indian Music. Kauthumi, one of the three branches of the Saamveda is more popular in Gujarat.

The Religious and Devotional Music

Religion and the temple were the origins of many a fine arts during the ancient period. The Vaishnav sect of ancient Gujarat nourished the traditions of music to a great extent. After the advent of Vallabhacharya, traditions of music in devotion to Lord Krishna entered into Gujarat via Shreenathji of Rajasthan. The haveli-music of Gujarat thus blanded into the Vraj tradition of music. Narsinh Mehta in 15th century and Meerabai contributed a great deal in spreading the devotional music in Gujarat.

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