UNITED WAY OF BARODA GARBA MAHOTSAV

Navaratri is one of the most revered Hindu festivals observed in the honor of goddess Lakshmi, Saraswati and Durga, also known as “Shakti”. It spans over nine nights during the month of sharada. Navaratri is said to be Gujarat’s one of the main festivals. The traditional celebrations include fasting for a day, or partially fasting each of the nine days by not eating grains or just taking liquid foods, in remembrance of one of nine aspects of Goddess Shakti. In Gujarat, the prayers are offered and dedicated to Goddess Shakti in the form of Garbo as a remembrance of the womb of the family and universe. Commonly known as Garba, it is a traditional dance performed by the locals and is also accompanied by live orchestra, seasonal raga, or devotional songs. It is a folk dance where people of different background and skills join and form concentric circles. The circles can grow or shrink, reaching sizes of hundreds or thousands of people, dancing and clapping in circular moves in their traditional attire. Traditionally, women wear chaniya choli—a traditional Gujarati three-piece outfit comprising choli, a chaniya (long flared skirt), and an embellished dupatta (long scarf). Chaniya cholis are paired with glittering bangles, payals (ankle bracelets), necklaces, and belts. Mens wear chorno, kediyu or dhoti. The garba dance also deploys dandiyas , coordinating movements and the striking of sticks between the dancers. Men and women of all ages moved in synchronization and without missing a single step, they move like one giant whirligig. It was an eye catching mélange of grace, skill and poise. United Way of Baroda is a local United Way set up in 1986, founded by Baroda Citizens Council with support from United Way International & UNICEF. United Way of Baroda is registered under Bombay Public Trust Act in 1998 & FCRA. Over three decades, United Way of Baroda is supporting communities, local NGOs and government for sustainable improvement in quality of life of less privileged people in and around Gujarat. Vadodara is famous for its biggest Navratri called ‘United Way of Baroda’. Any Garba Lover cannot miss United Way as it is one of the most organized place for playing garba with soothing music and melodious voice of ‘Atul Purohit’ jee. Shri Atulbhai Purohit is famous world over and is the man of Timeless Classics The Garba Legend & Gujarat Gaurav. United way of Baroda Garba is a Mohotsav organized at a grand level and it is a big name not only in Gujarat but whomsoever comes to Gujarat will ask about this place to visit once in Navratri festival. United Way is mentioned in Limca book of Records as the largest garba ground in the world. You may be living in Antarctica or the Brazilian rain forests, for those 9 days, Baroda is the place to be. It is said you cannot leave Baroda without experiencing and dancing your feet on the tunes of Atul Kaka’s garba. Million’s people across the world throng at this place every year without a miss.