Gandhinagar [Gujarat]: Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Friday participated in a raas garba celebration organised by the Navratri Yuvak Mandal in Kolvada village of Gujarat’s Gandhinagar district, describing the traditional dance as a symbol of devotion to the Goddess and Gujarat’s cultural heritage.
In a post on social media platform X, HM Shah shared details of his participation in the celebrations and highlighted the religious and cultural significance of garba.
“Garba embodies devotion to Maa Shakti and the fragrance of the land of Gujarat,” he wrote in Gujarati.
The event was part of HM Shah’s engagements in Gujarat during Navratri, the nine-night Hindu festival dedicated to the worship of the divine feminine.
Earlier in the day, HM Shah visited Jain spiritual leaders in Ahmedabad and sought their blessings. He subsequently offered prayers at the Varadayini Mata temple in Rupal village of Gandhinagar district, where he laid the foundation stone for an 81-foot-tall statue of Lord Shiva.
Later, the Union Home Minister visited the Bahuchara Mata temple in Mansa with his family, participated in the evening aarti and prayed for the well-being of people in Gujarat and across the country, according to officials.
HM Shah concluded his religious and cultural engagements by attending the raas garba programme in Kolvada, one of several Navratri celebrations being held across the state.
Navratri is celebrated extensively in Gujarat, with devotees gathering at community grounds and temple premises to participate in traditional garba and raas performances.
Garba, one of Gujarat’s most prominent traditional dance forms, is generally performed in a circle around an image or representation of the Goddess, accompanied by devotional songs, rhythmic movements and clapping.
Raas, another popular dance associated with the festival, is often performed using decorated wooden sticks known as dandiyas.
These traditional performances remain central to Navratri celebrations in Gujarat, bringing communities together through religious observances, music and dance.
[DD News]