The excitement of getting ready for the Garba and Dandiya raas festivals during Navaratri is unmatched and then looking for the garba and dandiya partner in the crowd of Navaratri festival was another amusing task. Aside from the joy and amusement of performing to the beats of music, traditional Indian dance forms such as Garba and Dandiya Raas have profound mythological and emotional significance. I’m sure the Genz generation is unaware of the startling distinction between Dandiya and Dandiya raas.
So, Mad4India is here to tell you about the unknown history of Dandiya raas which is the popular dance form of Gujarat and yes! It is not dandiya.
History of Dandiya Raas – Folk dance of Gujarat
This Gujarati folk dance, Dandiya Raas is one of the famous dances that originated from another traditional dance form of Gujarat, Garba. Besides this, Dandiya Raas is also performed in the Mewar region of Rajasthan.
The name “Dandiya Rass” is derived from another folk dance, the Dandiya dance form of Gujarat. This ancient dance form is dedicated to the Goddess Durga as the name “Dandiya” is derived from the word, “stick” which is the metaphor for the swords of Goddess Durga.
The Significance of Dandiya Raas Dance
This folk dance holds the great significance of the wins of good over evil. This dance form is performed in the evening of Navaratri celebrations followed by Garba and in the nine days of celebrations, it depicts the epic fight that took place between Goddess Durga and the demon, Mahishasur, in which Goddess Durga emerged as victorious.
Through Dandiya raas, the people of Gujarat preserve their culture, Indian mythology and divinity. For them, this dance is the symbol of pride and devotion to the Goddess Durga and her strength.
Difference between Dandiya & Dandiya raas
Well, the historical significance of Dandiya and Dandiya raas is quite similar but the style and the structure of both the dance forms are different. Dandiya is an individual dance form that is played using sticks requires even numbers of people and is mostly performed in pairs. However, it is also mentioned that in earlier times, this particular dance was only performed by men as they used to perform with swords instead of sticks. Dandiya was also given the nickname called “Sword Dance.”
On the other hand, Dandiya Raas is a mixture of various dance forms such as mandae, naman, bhetiya, bariya, athiya, panchiya, and dodhiya. These are the small regional dance forms of different states. Unlike dandiya, in dandiya Raas, various props like umbrellas and kutch dhols enhance the beauty of this dance form.
Costumes & Attires
Coming to the costumes and attires, men and women both wear vibrant and colourful dresses. Women’s dresses include designer, colourful and glimmering Chaniya Choli that looks so bright and vibrant. During the Navaratri celebrations, these beautiful attires are available in every market in Gujarat. Along with dresses, women also adorn chunky and heavy mirror work jewellery including bangles, earrings, anklets and necklaces. They also cover their head with beautiful mirror work dupattas.
Men also wear special Kurta and Pyjama sets which they only adorn in special traditional occasions. They also wear Saffa along with Kedia which can differ from state to state. They also tie the dupatta around their waist as per the traditions. Sometimes, to complete their looks, they also wear some silver rings and necklaces. Just like women, their dresses also radiate vibrancy and brightness.
Steps of Dandiya Raas
The steps of dandiya raas are comparatively easier than Garba. Their steps look like the fusion of different regional dance form steps. But the main structure of dandiya raas is derived from dandiya. Men and women dance together in concentric circles around the image of Goddess Durga.
Women move in a simple and graceful rotating manner around the mandvi. Both men and women hold sticks and while tuning in the tunes, they used to touch them in the regular intervals. One circle moves in clockwise and the other circle moves in anticlockwise. The sight of dancers moving around in circles is truly a rhythmically awe-inspiring sight to behold.
However, the only difference is that dandiya raas are not performed in pairs and the whole group perform the dandiya raas together in a circular movement with the use of various props besides dandiya.
10 destinations to visit in Gujarat
| 1. Great Rann of Kutch |
| 2. Gir Wildlife Sanctuary |
| 3. Gandhinagar |
| 4. Mandvi |
| 5. Patan & Modhera |
| 6. Dwarka |
| 7. Lothal and Dholavira |
| 8. Ahmedabad |
| 9. Bhavnagar |
| 10. Somnath |
Celebrations of this Gujarati Traditional Dance
1. The Garba and Dandiya Queen- Falguni Pathak
The excitement of performing dandiya is always there when the month of Navaratri comes. In Gujarat, as soon as the festivities start, there are various dandiya festivals and events take place. In September and October, the dandiya festivals take place and people swing on the music of Falguni Pathak who is also known as the Garba and Dandiya queen.
2. World’s largest Dandiya Pair
Recently, in the Navaratri festival 2023, The world’s largest Dandiya pair, measuring 75 feet in height and made using 8500 kg of MS and iron structure, was created by Shri Maheshbhai Kumbhani, the founder of TEERTH GOPICON LIMITED, a renowned construction company, and AAHLEE ROYAL ELEGANCE, an event management company from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India. It was installed as decorative in the centre of ground and set a new world record on October 19, 2023, at Labh Ganga, MR 10th Road, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Well, there is no doubt that Indian culture and Indian dance forms have always been loved for all the colourful and vibrant vibes that it sets. The magic of Indian dance forms is spreading all over the world.
For Copyright issues, links for the feature image- 1, 2, Canva
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Padhar dance form of Gujarat?
Padhar Dance form is performed by the Padhar community who are primarily fishermen. This dance depicts the situations that occur in the life of a seaman. The performer dances while holding little sticks in their hands and enact boat rowing while singing songs about water.
Why are the folk dances of Gujarat important?
The folk dances of Gujarat embark the girl’s first menstrual cycle and later her imminent marriage.
What are the different dance forms of Dandiya raas?
There are several styles of Dandiya raas that are mandae, naman, bhetiya, bariya, athiya, panchiya, and dodhiya.
If you loved discovering Dandiya Raas, the folk dance of Gujarat, then do give a read to This Folk Dance Of Rajasthan Is Inspired By The Snakes Of Desert – Kalbeliya Dance, A Powerful and energetic Folklore.
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