EMERGENCE OF GARBA IN GUJARAT

We the people of Gujarat are very fond of festivals. Garba is unique tradition of Gujarati people.Garba is the word derived from the" garbhdeep" word means putting natural light on water pot to worship mother goddess by means of fire.

 Gujarati people have developed their own tradition regarding worshiping mother goddess after Aryan invasion. Gujarat was the mainland of Harappan people sites.From the beginning of Harrappan culture very well known sites were flourished in Gujarat seashore and on the riverbank of Saraswati,sabarmati,Bhogavoas as well as Narmada.Lothal,Dholavira,Rogadi,Rangapur,,Surkotada are well known sites of the Harrappan era in Gujarat.InHarrappan era people used to worship mother goddess of fertility but we are not founding any evidence of practicing of Garba in the era but it might be possible because of some found pots are having mainmade holes which indicates Garba practice might be there.

   After Aryan invasion in India they made animal worshiping of Harrappan subjugated to their gods.Aryans made animal god subjugated to their god like serpents were subjugeted to shiva and vishnu,lion and tiger to mothergoddess,flower like lotus to mother Laxmi.The cult of mother goddess was well renowned among tribal people of Gujarat and it got some awareness among Aryans by the community" Charans" during the Gupta period. Charan community used to worship mother goddess in that period to assimilate tribal people in mainstream of Atavik kingdom.Also the cult of worshiping mother goddess was then got pace when it became cult of warrior and brave soldiers.Gujarati female used to do Garba in ancient time to appease mother goddess for victory of her husband in war.Thus the cult of war emerged with passing of time in Gujarat in form of Garba. 

  In the time of epic mahabharata there wasnt any form of Garba which was unknown but most famous was "Rass".After some times Garba and Rass mingled together and became cultural identity of Gujarat.  

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