GARBA, DANDIYA OF YORE

We just celebrated nine days of Navratri and Saraswati Puja, a time when everyone speaks of worshiping the sacred feminine.

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In this reflection, I want to examine the evolution of garba and dandiya during the Nine Nights of Navratri.

Traditionally, devotees were expected to keep jagran (vigil)—spending the night in meditation on the Devi. But long hours of meditation often led to drowsiness. To make this easier, our ancestors encouraged reading and chanting sacred texts like Durga Saptashati, Saundarya Lahari, and Shyamala Dandakam. Yet, prolonged chanting at night could also induce sleep.