“Garba at Risk: Preserving Tradition in an era of Encroaching Modernity”, Forpol India, September 24, 2025:
“Navratri is one of Bharat’s most cherished festivals, celebrated with devotion, colour, and cultural vibrancy. At its heart lies Garba, a devotional dance dedicated to Maa Amba, symbolising reverence for feminine power and communal worship. Originating in Gujarat, Garba has spread far beyond its roots, becoming a cultural marker for Hindus everywhere.
Under the label of so-called Dandiya Nights, Garba is being turned into a nightclub spectacle leading to this sacred tradition steadily losing its essence. What should be an act of devotion has in many places descended into display more akin to entertainment. Loud DJ music replaces traditional songs, alcohol flows freely.
Stripped of its devotion and divinity, Garba has increasingly been reduced to mere costume-driven performances, even in clubs where alcohol is served and organisers openly commercialise the event for profit. Instead of bhakti, it is business and spectacle that dominate. In cities like Mumbai and Delhi, several such Dandiya Nights have drawn media attention for incidents of overcrowding, eve teasing, underage drinking, and public disorder, highlighting the risks of commercialisation……”
Read the full article at Forpolindia.com
