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Gujarat:
The most important ones are Garba, Garbi and Ras. Of these, 'Garba' has become very popular all over India. There is no tradition as such in the dances of Gujarat. These dances are performed by the rural folk as well as the urban educated ladies of the towns and cities. As such, they are
mainly community dances having a religious background.
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Garba:
The name is derived from the sacred pot and the lamp which are very important in this dance. This is performed as a homage of Durga or Mahakali respected in Gujarat as Ambamata and is symbolized by the pot and lamp representing 'Shaku'. This symbol is kept in the center and the women dance around gracefully with beautiful bends, turns and twists. The dancers wear very colourful attractive dress and interesting jewellery typical of Gujarat. Quite often all the women in the group carry beautiful decorated pots on their heads and enter gracefully. Keeping them down on the floor, they dance with short jumps and leaps. This is an offering to Mother Earth and represents a cult of fertility.
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This is usually performed during 'Navarathri' festivals and it is interesting to note that every street, every social group does this dance, freely,
joyously, without any inhibitions during the nights of 'Dassara'. The women perform undulating movements clapping their hands and clicking their fingers to the slow tempo of the music.
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