Dandiya
Raas is the most popular dance of Gujarat. The dance is so popular that
it is performed not only in the state, but throughout India. Infact, it
is a special feature of the Navratri festival. The festival is
celebrated to pay homage to the nine incarnations of Mata Amb, the
Mother Goddess. People observe fasts on all nine days of the festival
and pay regular visits to temples. While the days are filled with
devotion towards the deity, the nights are vibrant, reflecting the
festive spirit at its peak. Special arrangements are made for Dandia
dance performances. Even the state government organizes special event
for the enjoyment of the people.Dandia is usually done in a group, by both men and women. The special feature of the dance is the colorful attire worn by the dancers and the colorful sticks carried by them. The sticks are used as prop and are beautifully decorated. It is for this reason the dance is also called the 'Stick Dance'. These sticks are usually made of bamboo, painted in different colors to make them look attractive. The performers hold sticks in both their hands and strike them together on the beats of the musical instruments. Dandiya Ras involves a huge number of people at a time. According to the dance setting, two circles are formed by the dancers.
One of the circles revolves clockwise, while the other revolves anti clockwise. The dance is a very energetic and fast paced activity, which leaves no scope for lethargy. The dancers are accompanied by an instrumentalist, playing a 'meddale' drum. The person stands in the center of the two circles and leads the dancers with his beats. The site of hundreds of people swaying on the beats of folk music is awe-inspiring. The sticks or the Dandiyas, when struck together in a rhythm, produce foot tapping musical waves. The best Raas dancers of the region are the Kathiawari Ras dancers from Saurashtra.
