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Gujarat:

FOLK DANCES OF SAURASHTRA:

They are similar to the folk dances of Gujarat and Rajasthan. In Nandikeshvara's 'Abhnaya Darpana', there is an anecdote which says that Goddess Parvati taught the art of dance to Usha, the daughter of Banasura. Usha later on taught this dance to the 'Gopika-s' of Dwaraka. 

This is the same 'Lasya' dance which we see as Garba dance now a days. As mentioned earlier this Garba dance is prevalent in Gujarat and performed during 'Navarathri', 'Sharad Panchami', 'Holi' and 'Vasant Panchami' festivals. This may be performed by both men and women. In Saurashtra, the men folk perform a dance similar to 'Dandiya Ras', in a circular manner, playing sticks to the accompaniment of the 'Dholak' played in the center. Similarly in 'Gof Gunthan', a part of 'Dandiya Ras', the men folk perform a dance similar to 'Pinnal Kolattam' by holding multi-coloured ribbons on their hands and these ribbons are attached to a central pot. Along with these, they play the sticks and dance round round and round weaving various patterns of the ribbons and undoing them with reverse movements. 

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.