The
main difference between the 'Garba'
and 'Dandiya'
dance performances is that Garba is performed
before Dandiya 'Aarti'
(worshipping ritual) as devotional performances
in the honor of the Goddess while Dandiya is
performed after it, as a part of merriment.
While Garba is
performed exclusively by women, men and women
join in for Dandiya.
Also known as 'stick dance' as performers use
a pair of colorfully decorated sticks as props,
the circular movements of Dandia
Raas are slightly more complex than that
of Garba. The dancers strike the sticks with
their partners to the rhythm of the music. The
origin of these dance performances or 'Raas'
can be traced back to the life of Lord Krishna.
Today, 'Raas'
is not only an important part of Navratri in
Gujarat but extends itself to other festivals
related to harvest and crops as well. |
