The Origins of Garba

"Garba" comes from the Sanskrit word garbha, meaning "womb."
Traditionally, the dance is performed by women in a circle around a clay lantern with a light inside, which symbolizes the body, within whom divinity (in the form of the Goddess) resides.

Garba is danced around this symbol to honor the fact that all humans have the divine energy of Devi within them. Now it's common to have images or statue (or a plush!) of Durga at the center of the circle.

Garba is performed in a circle, which represents the Hindu view of time. In Hinduism, time is cyclical.

As the cycle of time revolves, from birth to life to death to rebirth, the only thing that is constant is the Goddess, an unmoving symbol in the midst of all of this unending and infinite movement.

The Origins of Raas

Dandiya Raas is a type of a folk dance, which originated in Gujarat, India, and is performed during Navratri, the 9-day festival honoring Goddess Durga.

Dandiya symbolizes a mock fight between Durga Devi and Mahishasura where sticks of Dandiya represent the sword of Durga and is performed after the Garba.

Once upon a time,

There was a little boy named Mahishasur who was born to the king of demons and a buffalo, making him a powerful
part-buffalo part-demon.

He noticed that the demons and the Gods were always at odds with one and another. And he was tired of being on the losing side.

One day, he had an idea.

"Penance!"
He said to his father.

Believing that strict fasting and praying can make a person strong, he set out to do just that, and stood on one foot, under a tree, praying to Lord Brahma for many years.

His penance finally paid off.

Lord Brahma appeared and asked Mahishasur to make
a wish.

He asked for immortality, but after being denied, he wished for what he thought was just as comparable:

"Fine, if I must die, please let it be at the hands of a woman," thinking he had cleverly found a loophole.

"Done!" said Lord Brahma, but little did he know of Mahishasur's true intentions with that kind of a power.

After wreaking havoc all around the earth, Mahishasur next set his eyes on Amravati, Indra's capital.
(Indra was the King of Gods).

One by one, each of the Gods and their weapons were defeated.
Vishnu's chakra.
Indra's thunderbolt.
All rendered powerless.

After being exiled from heaven, the Gods approached the trinity,
Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma for help.

Vishnu said, "Wait a minute... if only a woman can kill Mahishasur, then let's combine our powers to create an invincible woman. Duh."
Everything from her head to toes, and from her weapons and clothes, was gifted by each of the Gods.

Durga was born and ready for battle.