Gujarat has a rich tradition of song, dance and drama. Ras, Garba, and Bhavai that are popular Gujarati folk dance forms, and have their origin from the ancient period of Lord Krishna. The Ras dance is actually a form of Ras Leela in which different childhood antics of Krishna at Gokul and Vrindavan are enacted. Dandia Ras is performed during the Navratri Festival and men and women both join in a dance circle with small sticks known as dandia. The Lasya or Garba dance is performed by women around a pot called Garbo, which is filled with water.
Gujarat has a great tradition of music and it has given the country some of the best talents in the field. Tansen and Baiju Bawra, greatest of all the musicians in India, were from this part of the country. Narsinh Mehta, the writer of the famous bhajan 'Vaishnava jan to tene kahiye', was also Gujarat's contribution to Indian music. Famous Indian ragas like Gujjar Tod, Bilaval, Khambhavati are all said to be named after Gujarat, Veraval and Cambay. |
