Navratris are gone .. Have left a vacuum for a couple of days ..soon to be filled by hushes n rushes of Diwali
NAVratri.. The incessant flow of energy it invokes..nav ..meaning nine ..nav meaning new ..n the festivities begin ..or do they ever cease ? so to say..even the heat couldn’t freeze the dodhiya steps.
Another occasion I take pride of my state Gujarat.remember Amitji (arre apne Amitabhji ;)) saying 'kuch din to guzaariye Gujarat mein' ..
I’d suggest those 'kuch' din better be in the navratri season ..to witness the colors n hues ,the spirit of 'happy-go-lucky-in-all-situation' gujaratis or simply being in the Gandhi state 'Gujarat’!
Everything that goes round n round n comes a full circle ,well,sometimes it’s life .. N many a times it is-Garba n Dodhiya ... ☺️
From teen taali to 10/13/22/32 and the odd 56 ..yes u read it right ..56 !! (Even faintly heard of 108)
To dandiyas in baroda style to ‘Sanedo' to ‘Macarena' to the ever in demands dj and bhangda styled ..all are available to sooth your senses with addons of utmost grace n finnese,awesomest kutchi n bandhni attires with the Latkans n pompoms in place .. This year it was also the CHOGADA TARA and KAMMARIYA which attracted many glances .. !! ..sounds crazy.. Well well !! Here it is ..
N the stamina of the khelaiyas ,sometimes u begin to wonder if they are on Sultan’s diet or what .. But hey no !... The adrenaline rush is caused by the intoxicating music..just as Zeenat Aman’s dum maro dum makes u sway your head involuntarily from side to side ..the garba beats adds spring to your feet ..
from idna vinva gayi thi to bhambhariya to chakdol to Taara vinaa shyam mane.. Gujarati music n lyrics make u dance to their tunes NO MATTER WHAT.. N Sunita Rao’s ‘pari hun mein’ is yet another integral part of garba music it seems.. as all the women on the ground don’t miss swaying on the number. Seems like living upto the lyrics .. N Amitji’s evergreen numbers from dekha na haye re ,pyar mein dil pe , to Yamma yamma !
Agar Gujarat mein rehkar garba nahi kiya to phir kya kiya.. N its never too late to begin.. While the youth have gala times dancing ,the veterans n nondancers are content to take seats n witness the sweat-swag saga.. All finding solace n rejuvenating in their own ways.. N little kids doing garba in full dress up .. They truly truly steal the show.
Streets come alive after nine ..as if a nocturnal nightingale has woke up .. N the roads start streaming with 2/4wheelers with dressed up, decked up people .. Apno Garvi Gujarat ..again I take pride, as I see police personnel n police vans almost every time within reachable radius.. Mentally I salute the honest n diligent ones ..it’s because of you guys that garba can be enjoyed to this extent..
Like all good things ,this saga also reaches its pinnacle on the tenth day ..
The lights are being put off.. The musicians are pulling the plugs ..people are being ushered.. Somewhere a group of dancers is not yet done with dancing it seems.. with feet full of blisters.. with calf muscles screaming 'help’.. with eyes praying for sleep.. with throat soar of hootings they seem to be urging the music band.. to play- one last song ..for them to do-one last dance..
.. Maybe the song is .. yammaa yammaa ye khubsurat samaa..bas aaj ki raat hai zindagi kal hum kahan tum kahaan.. till then .. love you Zindagi !!!!