5 things you didn’t know about Garba | Gujarat’s dance of devotion - video Dailymotion

From village courtyards to glittering domes, Garba has evolved into a dance of devotion and drama.

Transcript

00:00Garba, it's not just dance, it's Gujarat's biggest flex.

00:07But here are 5 things you didn't know about Garba.

00:10Different regions, different styles.

00:12Ahmedabad and Surat keep it stylish and flashy.

00:15Small circles, dancers showing off their moves, stadiums, celebrities and plenty of LED sparkle.

00:21Vadotra goes all out with giant circles where thousands move together like one unstoppable heartbeat.

00:30But not every city has gone modern.

00:34In villages and smaller towns, Garba still looks like the old days.

00:38In Saurashtra, for instance, you'll find Pali women balancing decorated pots on their heads while moving in circles of devotion.

00:45In parts of Kathyavad, there's fiery mashalras with men dancing barefoot holding burning torches

00:51and talwarras where swords are twirled in rhythm adding a battle-like energy to devotion.

01:00And let's not forget Tali Garba, where rhythm comes only from claps.

01:04No instruments, no fuss, just pure energy offered to the goddess.

01:08Garba once had just a few steps.

01:10Today, it features 10, 12 and even 21 step variations.

01:14Props weren't random either.

01:16Pots symbolized fertility, lamps meant life, fire stood for strength and swords.

01:22Well, that was Durga's weapon of choice.

01:25Devotion, but with swagger.

01:27Fast forward to today and Garba has gone experimental.

01:30There's Techno Garba with DJs dropping beats heavier than your lehenga.

01:34Disco Garba with strobe lights and remixes.

01:37Garba with pets.

01:38Yes, people actually show up with their dogs and ghagras.

01:41And of course, costumes have gone from mirror work to full blown runway.

01:46Sequins, LEDs, even outfits that blink in rhythm with the dhol.

01:50And before you confuse them, Garba and Dandia are not the same.

01:54Garba is danced in circles barefoot around a lamp celebrating the feminine divine.

01:59Dandia on the other hand is performed with sticks.

02:02Faster and more energetic, often mistaken for Garba.

02:05So whether you're swirling under the stars in a village courtyard

02:08or vibing to techno beats in an air-conditioned dome, Garba proves one thing.

02:13Gujarat knows how to keep tradition moving in circles and sometimes in disco balls.