Gujarat's unique garba tradition: Men in sarees dance to lift a centuries-old curse
Ahmedabad: As the clock struck 10 on the eighth night of Navratri, a distinctive ritual unfolded in the walled city of Ahmedabad, known locally as a pol. Amidst the fervour of garba celebrations that have swept across Gujarat, a group of men donned sarees and petticoats, performing a centuries-old dance to lift a curse and pay homage to a revered deity.
The men, dressed in shirts and trousers, were assisted by the women in the house to drape sarees over their clothes, adjusting the folds and tucking in the fabric. After a bit of struggle, they were ready to perform a traditional dance called ‘Saduma na Garba’, as reported by Deccan Herald on Wednesday.
The men, now adorned in colourful sarees, walked together towards a small temple. As devotional music blared from loudspeakers, a crowd gathered, eager to witness the ritual, undeterred by the rain. For the Barot community, this was a sacred night, one that marked a tradition passed down for over 200 years.
The legend behind "Saduma na Garba" dates back to a tragic tale of Saduma, a woman wronged by the ruler of her time. According to the story, Saduma was deceived by the ruler, which led to her death. Before dying, she took the life of her child in a final act of defiance, cursing the Barots for failing to protect her. Since then, the Barot community has performed this ritual every year in an effort to appease Saduma and lift her curse, added the report.
"This is our sacred night. I had taken a mannat that if I got married, I would perform this ritual,” DH quoted Raj J. Barot, a 21-year-old engineering student as saying. Similarly, Parth S Barot, a physiotherapist, expressed his participation as a way to seek well-being not only for his family but for the larger community as well.
While the Barot community sees the ritual as a deeply spiritual and devotional act, it has caught the attention of a women’s collective called 'Lal Lipstick', led by standup comedian Preeti Das and Renu Pokharna. The group has been hosting storytelling sessions centered on the tradition, reframing it as a celebration of "gender fluidity" and using the performance to challenge patriarchal norms.
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Allen, Raghuvanshi, Green power KKR to 29-run win over GT
Kolkata (PTI): Finn Allen blasted a 35-ball 93, while Angkrish Raghuvanshi hit an unbeaten 44-ball 82 as Kolkata Knight Riders kept their playoff hopes alive with a 29-run win over Gujarat Titans in the IPL match here on Saturday.
Sent in to bat, Allen went on a six-hitting spree, smashing 10 maximums and four boundaries to add 95 off 41 balls with Raghuvanshi (82).
Raghuvanshi then shared another 108 off 53 balls with Cameron Green (52 not out) to power KKR to a challenging 247 for 2.
In reply, GT could manage 218-4, riding on skipper Shubman Gill's 49-ball 85 and a 35-ball 57 from Jos Buttler. Opener Sai Sudarsan was retired hurt but returned to make a 28-ball 53 not out.
Sunil Narine (2/29) claimed two wickets and Saurabh Dubey snapped one for KKR.
For GT, Mohammed Siraj (1/50), Sai Kishore (1/38) were the wicket-takers.
Brief Score:
KKR: 247 for 2 in 20 overs (Finn Allen 93, Angkrish Raghuvanshi 82 not out, Camero Green 52 not out; Mohammed Siraj 1/50).
GT: 218 for 4 in 20 overs (Shubman Gill 85, Sunil Narine 2/29).
