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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UP Cong holds statewide protest seeking probe into FIR against Swami Avimukteshwaranand
Lucknow (PTI): The Uttar Pradesh Congress on Wednesday staged a statewide protest demanding a fair and transparent inquiry into the FIR lodged against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and those who filed the complaint against him.
In a statement issued here, the party said memorandums addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi were submitted through district magistrates in all districts of the state.
Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Manish Hindvi told PTI that the memorandums were handed over through the district administration in all 75 districts.
In the memorandum, the party alleged that Saraswati and his disciples were "unnecessarily harassed and humiliated" by police on the occasion of Amavasya and were prevented from taking a ritual bath (at the Magh Mela). It further alleged that some disciples were manhandled and taken to a police station.
The memorandum also claimed that an FIR was later registered against Saraswati, his disciple Swami Mukundanand Brahmachari and several unidentified persons in a sexual harassment case. It termed the case a "conspiracy" aimed at tarnishing the seer's reputation.
Citing Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, the memorandum stated that these provisions guarantee religious freedom and the right of religious denominations to manage their own affairs.
It described the position of shankaracharya held by Saraswati as "one of the highest spiritual posts in Sanatan tradition" and alleged that the entire episode appeared to have been "orchestrated in a planned manner".
"We request that the background of the persons who got the FIR registered be investigated in a transparent manner by a retired high court judge and strict action be taken against them," the memorandum said.
It also sought a "fair and transparent probe" into the allegations levelled against Saraswati so that the truth could be established.
Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai had told reporters in Varanasi after meeting Saraswati that the party stood firmly with him.
The Congress said it would continue to press for an impartial inquiry into the entire episode.
On February 21, an FIR was lodged in Prayagraj against Saraswati and his disciple Mukundanand Brahmachari on charges of sexually abusing two persons, including a minor, over the past year at a gurukul and religious congregations, including the recently concluded Magh Mela.
Days after he was booked, Saraswati had said on Monday that he would not oppose his arrest and asserted that the "fabricated story" would be exposed sooner or later.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Saraswati alleged that criminals rule in Uttar Pradesh, level allegations and influence investigations, as he denied having any contact with the two persons for whose alleged sexual abuse he has been booked.
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