Navratri 2024: How Garba crosses boundaries and unites the world

People across India are gearing up to be immersed in a mélange of vibrant colours and traditional beats as Navratri 2024 approaches, bringing with it one of the most loved forms of celebrations - Garba. While Gujarat is a hotspot of festivities, the state's folk dance is not limited by that geography. Transcending boundaries, it is enthusiastically performed in other parts of the country by Gujaratis and non-Gujaratis alike. Interestingly, Garba also has a strong fanbase internationally, in countries like the UK, USA, Australia and Canada.

Garba was inscribed on the Representative List of UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2023, bringing global recognition for this regional art form that embodies the divine energy of Durga Maa, or Amba Mata. The official website of UNESCO mentions, "The practitioners and bearers of Garba are broad and inclusive, from the dancers to the musicians, social groups, craftspeople and religious figures involved in the festivities and preparations. Garba is transmitted across generations in urban and rural areas through practice, performance, imitation, and observation."

While Garba is a folk dance associated with culture and community engagement, its scope is ever-increasing with enthusiasts even learning and performing it professionally.

Parth Patel, founder of Thangaat Garba, reveals, "When we used to do Garba before in 2013-14, there was no social media. So, we used to only perform at Falguni Pathak's events. I could see people doing the same three-four steps back then. But I realised it is a lot more than that. We can create 300 more steps. Garba goes beyond teen taali, popat, hinch and other common steps."

While people, especially the millennials and Gen Z, are increasingly being drawn to explore and learn the dance form, maintaining authenticity is a priority.

Parth says, "Not everyone does authentic Garba, especially the young crowd. They are more attracted towards Bollywood music. So, a balance has to be maintained without compromising authenticity."

Garba goes global

While Garba is emerging as an avenue for professional training, its reach is not limited to India.

Parth, who conducts international Garba workshops every year, reveals, "The response we got to our international workshops this year was tremendous. We had four locations in Australia and there were still so many cities left. After that, we also went to the US. We did seven workshops in seven cities and it was all housefull. People actually wait for us to come there and teach. That shows how enthusiastic people are about Garba even outside the country."

Ask him if only Indians attend these workshops and he's quick to say, "We usually have a mixed crowd. It majorly consists of Indians, but there are other people as well. Every year, we are getting almost six times more students. So, the enthusiasm for learning and performing is definitely there."

Like other international destinations, the Garba scene in the United Kingdom, especially London, has evolved tremendously over the years, and Vibhuti (Vibs) Sheena Patel has borne witness to it.

Vibs, who is the co-founder of Garba Flow, a London-based training institute, reveals, "The dance form has come such a long way from when I first started doing Garba more seriously. I think there has always been an enthusiasm for Garba especially around festive periods like Navratri, and there has definitely been a shift in seeing more young people taking an interest to learn more and to want to delve deeper into understanding it as a folk dance. I also think there is a huge demand for it to be accessible throughout the year and that is growing rapidly in London. We also take weekly classes in London all year round, bringing in about 100 students per week. Through workshops, talks, performances and more across London and the UK, we are trying to spread our culture in a way that is accessible but is also with respect to our ancestors and heritage."

Garba enjoys immense popularity in London (Pic: Vibs Patel)

"In the UK, the majority of class or event attendees are Indians, specifically Gujarati. However, we have had so many other people attend our classes and events. There really is no barrier to entry for Garba. We believe in bringing together communities, regardless of their faith, caste or background," she adds.

Born and brought up in London, she has seen the enthusiasm for Garba evolve on a large scale. However, her personal journey with the dance form and culture has also seen an evolution.

Vibs Patel has performed at various Garba events in London and the UK along with her partner and dance troupe (Pic: Vibs Patel)

She shares, "I have been performing and teaching Garba for about 12 years. I was originally introduced to it by my parents who took me to Navratri every year, but as I got older, I went to a London university and saw that I could be a part of a Garba dance on stage. I auditioned in my first year and got in. I fell into a rabbit hole of wanting to learn more about Garba and Gujarati culture, and to be honest, I am still falling deeper, and I love it."

"I then met my current partner, Parle Patel, who at the time was doing a call out for passionate Garba dancers to be part of a group called Raas Rebellion. I got to explore more about Garba with a small group of us including co-founder, Priyel Upadhyaya," she adds.

"As the years passed, I met other passionate individuals who were also dedicated to putting Gujaratis on the map. I was given the opportunity to choreograph Garba music videos in the UK with Pritee Varsani as the lead singer. I realised that this was my calling. And so, Parle and I decided to take the Garba scene in London to a whole new level, as we co-founded Garba Flow. We have been able to take Garba to places like the BBC, ITV, Arts Council England, and we even performed Garba to the Queen of England," she reveals.

Many people abroad are similarly connecting with their roots and taking Garba to international platforms.

The diversity of Garba

Even within India, Garba is a favourite amongst people across geographies and cultures.

Vaibhav Joshi, a Dehradun-based university student, reveals, "I have been practising this folk dance form since three-four years now. I participate in almost every Garba event in Dehradun."

Ask him how he got introduced to it and he says, "It's the age of social media. You can gain any type of knowledge through it. That's how I got to know about this dance form. Additionally, I was also taught Garba back in school."

Garba classes and events are held every Navratri across the country and many people participate in these, irrespective of their cultural background.

Parth informs, "Back in 2017, we used to majorly have non-Gujarati participants. They wanted to learn because their friends/partners were Gujarati. Gujaratis generally believe that they are naturally pro at Garba. But over time, when people started observing us, they realised there is a lot to learn. Now, we get approximately 50 per cent Gujarati and 50 per cent non-Gujarati participants."

Muskaan Mehrotra, who was born in Mumbai and moved to Surat 10-12 years ago, reveals, "I didn't know how to perform Garba when I first moved here, especially because it's way different in Gujarat than in other places. I used to watch and observe. I was so intrigued with it, curious to know how they're moving their feet, how they're doing certain variations that it made me eager to learn. For 3 years now, I have been going out for garba events and dancing there."

Muskaan Mehrotra dances at a Garba event (Pic: Muskaan Mehrotra)

What draws people towards Garba?

Muskaan says, "I am a Punjabi but no matter which community you belong to, when you come to Gujarat, you automatically feel like being a part of that culture."

"They dance their hearts out and enjoy it so much; that energy transfers. It is different vibe altogether. Nobody forces you to participate in it, but you automatically get drawn," she further expresses.

For Parth, it is a source of happiness. "One thing is for sure - people love this dance form. They get happiness when they dance. It definitely carries elements of culture. But it is not just ‘my' folk dance. It is a dance form that people love. I want to take this happiness worldwide, not just the dance form or the culture attached to it. The objective is to spread happiness through dance," he concludes.

Stressing on how Garba fosters a sense of community, Vibs expresses, "It is a folk dance that brings people of all walks of life together, and we dance in unison. I really love the idea of infinity, and when you do Garba in a circle, it can never end, you can never hit a wall, you just keep going. There is no feeling quite like that."

Also Read: Navratri 2024: How celebrations have evolved over the years in Mumbai