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THE GRACEFULLY FEMININE GARBHA
Just as Lord Krishna popularized the Raas dance, Usha, the grand
daughter-in-law of Lord Krishna gets the credit for popularizing the Lasya
Nritya, which came to be known as Garbha Dance. The word 'Garbha' derives
its name after a lamp called Garbhadip, which means 'the lamp inside the
earthen pot'.
It
is a circular dance performed by women around an earthenware pot called a
'garbho', filled with water. A betel nut and a silver coin are placed
within the pot, called a 'kumbh', on top of which a coconut is placed. As
the dancers whirl around the pot, a singer and a drummer provide the
musical accompaniment. The participants clap in a steady rhythm.
IMPORTANT OCCASIONS
The Garbha Nritya is a circular form of dance performed by the women of
Gujarat and this dance is
performed during Navratri, Sharad Purnima, Vasant Panchami,
Holi
and other festivals.