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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India, New Zealand ink free trade agreement
New Delhi (PTI): India and New Zealand on Monday inked a free trade agreement, aimed at boosting two-way commerce and investments.
The pact was signed by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and visiting New Zealand's Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay.
The FTA provides duty-free access for 100 per cent of India's exports to New Zealand, covering all tariff lines or produce categories, and is expected to significantly boost MSMEs and employment by enhancing competitiveness in labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, apparel, leather, footwear, gems and jewellery, engineering goods, and processed foods.
Earlier, New Zealand maintained peak tariffs of up to 10 per cent on key Indian exports, including ceramics, carpets, automobiles, and auto components.
With zero-duty market access from entry into force as New Zealand's other trade partners, Indian products will be fully competitive in that country, enjoying a level playing field.
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Significantly, India also secured duty-free inputs for its manufacturing sector, including wooden logs, coking coal, and waste and scraps of metals, lowering production costs and enhancing the global competitiveness of the Indian industry.
On the other hand, India has offered tariff liberalisation on 70.03 per cent of tariff lines covering 95 per cent of bilateral trade value, while keeping 29.97 per cent of tariff lines excluded to protect India's sensitive sectors.
The products that are kept in exclusion are mainly -- dairy (milk, cream, whey, yoghurt, cheese etc.), animal products (other than sheep meat), agricultural products (onions, chana, peas, corn, almonds), sugar, artificial honey, animal, vegetable or microbial fats and oils, arms and ammunition, gems and jewellery, copper and articles thereof (cathodes, cartridges, rods, bars, coils), aluminium and articles thereof (ingots, billets, wire bars) among others.
On 30 per cent of tariff lines of New Zealand, India will provide duty elimination on goods such as wood, wool, sheep meat, and leather-raw hides.
Similarly, 35.60 per cent of tariff lines are subject to phased elimination over 3, 5, 7, and 10 years, including petroleum oil, malt extract, vegetable oils, selected electrical and mechanical machinery, and peptones.
New Zealand products which enjoy tariff reductions include wine, pharmaceutical drugs, polymers, aluminum, iron and steel articles, and goods that only 0.06 per cent fall under tariff rate quotas, including Manuka honey, apples, kiwi fruit, and albumins, including milk albumin.
The FTA also includes a commitment to facilitate USD 20 billion in investment into India.
A rebalancing clause is incorporated into the Agreement to provide a framework for addressing any shortfall in investment delivery, thereby ensuring robust and tangible economic outcomes.
Total bilateral trade in goods and services reached USD 2.4 billion in 2024.
