As social media is buzzing with reels of dance lovers grooving to Gujarati folk mashups, garba workshops across NCR are drawing in enthusiasts to swirl, clap and strike their dandiya sticks in rhythm. With seasoned choreographers leading crash courses and workshops, many are picking up the basic moves just in time to let their hair down during Navratri nights.‘Garba workshops are not limited to the festive season’Nandini Pillai, who recently conducted dakla workshops in Gurgaon and Delhi, notes that garba is no longer restricted to the festive season. “Garba is enjoyed year-round now, it goes beyond the festive season. I, along with choreographer Heet Samani, have been organising workshops since March. People have been giving so much love to garba workshops throughout the year, probably because the core of folk dance is rejoicing with the community.” She observes, “Participants love sharing the energy in a community-oriented dance form like garba. While garba workshops are not limited to the festive season, they do pick up 10x a month before Navratri.”
‘Garba workshops are not limited to the festive season’
For Bharat Singh Chauhan, founder of Garbaholics 360, who has been taking workshops in Delhi for over a decade now, the appeal lies in blending dance with cultural context. “In our workshops, apart from teaching steps, I explain the meaning of the aarti so people understand the roots too. The most enthusiastic learners are usually non-Gujaratis, which is beautiful. Fitness enthusiasts also use garba as part of their workout routine.”
Navratri is my favourite festival because of garba. The workshop was a great learning experience, mazaa aa gaya!
Riddhima Bali, a second-year college student
‘People want to experience the joy that garba brings’Parth Patel from Thangaat, who teaches Mumbai-style garba along with Ankit Upadhyaya, agrees that the most popular reason why people want to learn garba is to emulate the joy that they see in people who do garba. He says, “Garba was earlier limited to the Gujarati community, now people across communities want to learn. The main motivation is to experience joy.”
The main motivation for people to learn garba is to experience joy it brings
Tamnna Patel, one of the trainers from a troupe in Ahmedabad who is taking Ramjhat garba workshops with Shri Dakshin Delhi Gujarati Mandal as one of the centres, says, “The response of Delhiites was reflective of the city’s welcoming nature for all the cultures. The participants across age groups are truly energetic.” Nandini adds, “Delhi has beautiful, energetic dance lovers. Most of those who attended the workshop were people who were doing garba for the first time. By attending the workshop they showered love not only on me, but also the dance form.”
Bharat Singh Chauhan teaching dandiya at his Delhi workshop (Pic: Garbaholics 360)
Devoting two hours to the goddess through garba was divine. I felt closer to my roots
Aditi Rughani, a Gurgaon resident who attended the workshop
“Knowing the basics helps participants slip into the big circles at garba nights. We teach steps like poptaiyo, hinch and song choreographies too,” says Parth Patel.Popular folk songsRadhe Radhe DaklaKhalasiNavlaakhaai LobadiyaliyuSawariyo x Krishna Bhagwan Ghammar GhammarMoti Veraya Chok MaKesariyo Rang Tane Lagyo
Glimpses from Nandini Pillai’s dakla workshop in Gurgaon
Popular Bolly-garba hitsShubarambhDholida Chogada Nagada Sang DholKamariyaJhume Re Gori Barso ReUdi Udi Jaye
I am from Gujarat, and experiencing garba energy in Gurgaon weeks before Navratri was a pleasure. The dakla workshop felt like a genuine invitation to Devi Maa to come dance with us
Shraddha, an attendee
