Visually Impaired girls from Ahmedabad perform garba on a song penned by PM Modi

The festival of Navratri is celebrated with much pomp and show throughout the country. No celebration is complete sans dance, and the Gujarati Garba is inevitably the most famous dance form. The synchronized circles of dance are a treat to watch and are enjoyed by people of all ages.

Recently, several visually impaired girls from the ‘Andh Kanya Prakashgruha’ (Ahmedabad, Gujarat) performed the Garba dance. They danced to one of the songs written by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, titled ‘Ghume Aeno Garbo’. The music has been directed by Bindu Trivedi and Aishwarya Majmudar and Ami Neeraj Parekh have lent their voices to the song.

(Image Courtesy: ANI)

It was penned by the PM in his mother tongue, Gujarati. The musical rendition has traditional garba beats with authentic Gujarat feels. The girls are dressed in the traditional ‘chaniya-choli’ and danced in perfect synchronization.

THE SONG

The lyrics of the song are as follows:

Gaye teno garbo ne jhile teno garbo               (Jhile: chorus, people who repeat after the singer)

garbo Gujarat ni garvi merat chhe

 

Ghume teno garbo ne jhume teno garbo

Surya-chandra garbo ne Rutuo pann garbo

Divas pann garbo ne raat pann garbo

Sanskruti garbo ne prakruti garbo

Garbo Gujarat ni garvi merat chhe

 

Vaansdi chhe garbo, morpinchh garbo

Garbo mati che, sahamati garbo                 (Mati: wisdom ; sahamati: cooperation)

Veer no ee garbo, ameer no ee garbo

Garbo Gujarat ni garvi merat chhe

 

Garbo Sati chhe ne garbo gati chhe

Garbo naari ni phulni bichhat chhe

Garbo jivan ni hadvi ni raat chhe

Kaya pan garbo ne jiv pan garbo

 

Garbo chhe sat ane garbo akshat chhe                (Sat: energy ; Akshat: Rice)

Garbo mataji nu kanku radiyat chhe

Garbo jivan ni hadvi ni raat chhe

Garbo Gujarat ni garvi merat che ...

The song reiterates that the dance of Garba is the pride of Gujarat. The words bring forth the universality of Garba. It resides everywhere, within everything. The sun and moon, the seasons, day and night - everything is garba. The tradition and nature is garba. It is of everyone - veer (courageous) and ameer (rich). Garba lights up the nights of life. It is very dear to the goddess. Garba is the body and the soul. Through the song, PM Modi describes the essence of garba.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF 'GARBA'

The word ‘Garba’ is a Sanskrit word which means womb. The dance is performed in reverence of the ultimate ‘shakti’ and the celebration of the feminine element. While taking a round of garba, the dancer circles the creative activities of ‘prakriti’ (nature) - without which nothing would exist. The complete round of garba also signifies that at the end, everything comes full circle.

PM MODI AS A 'POET'

One of the lesser known traits of PM Modi is his phenomenal writing skills. He has penned down several books in Gujarati. An anthology of poems written by him was translated into English by Ravi Mantha titled 'A Journey: Poems'. On World Poetry Day, PM Modi came out with 'Saakshi Bhav' (2015), another set of poems contemplating life. The book is available in both Hindi and Gujarati languages. He has also written 'Sangharsh Ma Gujarat' (Gujarat in Struggle). Earlier this year, he shared yet another book - ‘Ramata Ram Akela’.

READ: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Extends Greetings On Navratri

PM Modi is a great devotee and follows the rituals of Navratri with all faith and devotion. He even observes a nine-day fast during the auspicious period.