Navratri is one of India’s most cherished festivals, celebrated with devotion, colour, and cultural vibrancy. At its heart lies Garba, a devotional dance dedicated to Maa Amba, symbolising reverence for feminine power and communal worship. Originating in Gujarat, Garba has spread far beyond its roots, becoming a cultural marker for Hindus everywhere.
Under the label of so-called Dandiya Nights, Garba is being turned into a nightclub spectacle leading to this sacred tradition steadily losing its essence. What should be an act of devotion has in many places descended into display more akin to entertainment. Loud DJ music replaces traditional songs, alcohol flows freely.
Stripped of its devotion and divinity, Garba has increasingly been reduced to mere costume-driven performances, even in clubs where alcohol is served and organisers openly commercialise the event for profit. Instead of bhakti, it is business and spectacle that dominate. In cities like Mumbai and Delhi, several such Dandiya Nights have drawn media attention for incidents of overcrowding, eve teasing, underage drinking, and public disorder, highlighting the risks of commercialisation.
The Significance of Garba
To understand why this distortion is unacceptable, one must remember what Garba truly stands for. The word originates from ‘garbh’, meaning ‘womb’, the source of life. Traditionally, a clay lamp was placed at the centre, symbolising divine energy. Men and women, dressed in traditional attire, danced reverently in circles around it, offering themselves in prayer to the Goddess.
Every movement and rhythm was an act of worship. Garba was never meant to be a show, much less a ticketed entertainment programme. It was and remains an expression of collective devotion. To turn this sacred act into a late-night party is to hollow out its spiritual essence.
In metropolitan India, however, the reality is starkly different. Garba has been co-opted by the entertainment industry. Clubs, hotels, and event organisers market Dandiya Nights as glamorous evenings where religious symbols become props for commercial gain. Celebrities are brought in as attractions, tickets are sold at sky rocketing prices and youngsters abuse substances openly.
This is not just cultural dilution; it is a direct affront to Hindu religious sentiment. When devotion is replaced by revelry, when prayers are drowned out by DJ beats, and when attire and ambience mock modesty and reverence, Garba ceases to be Garba. It becomes a caricature of itself.
Gatekeeping is Not Exclusion
Alongside vulgarisation lies another pressing concern: the problem of religious infiltration. In several cities, instances have emerged of individuals attending Garba not to participate in worship but with ulterior motives. These situations have occasionally led to conflict and tension. This raises an important question.
In a diverse country like India, every faith guards its traditions with reverence, no one dares interfere with Eid prayers, Christmas Mass, or Gurpurab processions. Why then should Garba, a sacred celebration rooted in Hindu devotion, be left open to misuse or casual misappropriation? The sanctity of Garba must be preserved by ensuring it remains what it was always meant to be: an act of devotion to Shakti by the Hindu community.
It is evident that moral appeals alone will not suffice. Garba must be brought under a legal and regulatory framework that defines boundaries and preserves its essence. Certain measures are needed: mandatory registration of all Garba events; specific criteria for organisers, such as being a registered Hindu religious body or possessing a no-objection certificate from one; stipulations on music, dress code, and alcohol; and clear enforcement by local authorities. Such rules will ensure Garba remains devotional rather than commercial.
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These steps are not about exclusion but about preservation. Every community has the right to safeguard its faith and culture. Muslims ensure the sanctity of their Eid prayers, Christians of their Christmas Mass, Sikhs of their Gurpurab processions. No one questions these boundaries. Similarly, Hindus too have the right to protect Garba from both vulgar modernisation and misuse.
The issue is not merely about religious sentiment; it is also about cultural continuity and social harmony. Left unchecked, the current trajectory will turn Garba into little more than a fashion parade or DJ night, erasing centuries of devotional practice. Worse, unchecked infiltration and vulgarisation risk creating flashpoints for discord.
A legal framework would provide clarity and enforcement. It would reassure devotees that their traditions are safe while deterring those who see Garba as just another party opportunity. Most importantly, it would ensure that future generations inherit Garba as a spiritual celebration, not a commercial gimmick.
Why Preserving the Sacred Nature of Garba is Important
Preserving the sacred is not only the duty of government or law enforcement; it is the responsibility of society. Hindu religious and cultural organisations must take the lead in reasserting Garba’s sanctity. Communities must resist the lure of glamorous Dandiya Nights and instead support traditional and devotional forms of celebration.
Parents must ensure that children understand the tradition as an act of bhakti, not an excuse for revelry. The state must also recognise that when religious traditions are misappropriated, it is not merely cultural harm but also a law-and-order concern. Preventive action today will avert conflict tomorrow.
Garba is devotion in motion, a prayer offered through rhythm and dance to the divine feminine. To allow it to be trivialised into a nightclub party is to betray its meaning. To allow misuse that disrespects its sanctity is to invite conflict. India prides itself on safeguarding the traditions of all faiths. It is time to extend the same protection to Garba. Garba is devoted to Maa Amba, not a party in a club. The message must be unambiguous only then can this timeless celebration of faith and culture be handed down untainted and unbroken to the generations that follow.
