Navratri is Gujarat's festival, and Atham, the eighth day, is its most sacred. For nine nights in the month of Aso every housing society, village square and stadium turns into a ring of dancers moving round an earthen pot with a lamp inside, the garbo, which gives the dance its name. It begins after the evening arati and goes on past midnight. In 2023 UNESCO inscribed the Garba of Gujarat as intangible heritage.
The story
Garbo comes from garbha-deep, the lamp in the womb: the pierced pot is the body and the flame within it the goddess. The circle turns as time turns, with her unmoving at the centre.
On Atham a havan is performed in homes and temples, and many families worship their own kuldevi. The older style, sheri garba, is sung by the dancers themselves without amplification, in the street.
જય આદ્યા શક્તિ, મા જય આદ્યા શક્તિ
Victory to the primal power; Mother, victory to the primal power
The opening of the Navratri arati, composed by Shivanand Swami
How the nine nights go
- GhatasthapanThe garbo is installed on the first evening and the lamp kept burning.
- AratiEvery night begins with "Jay Adhya Shakti".
- Garba and dandiya raasThe clapping circle first, then the stick dance.
- Chaniya choli and kediyuThe mirrored and embroidered dress of Kutch and Saurashtra.
- UpvasMany fast for the nine days, or on Atham.
- Atham no havanThe fire offering of the eighth day.
Why this date
Atham is the Ashtami of the bright half of Aso (Ashwin), on the day it is present at sunrise. Navratri begins eight days earlier.
Navratri and Atham in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Tuesday | |
| 2026 | Monday | |
| 2027 | Thursday | |
| 2028 | Tuesday | |
| 2029 | Sunday | |
| 2030 | Friday |
More Gujarati festivals
19 OctoberNavratri Nomનોમ · મહા નવમી
20 OctoberDussehraદશેરા
14 SeptemberGanesh Chaturthiગણેશ ચતુર્થી
4 SeptemberJanmashtamiજન્માષ્ટમી
28 AugustRaksha Bandhanરક્ષાબંધન
29 OctoberKarva Chauthકરવા ચોથ
Where to see Navratri and Atham
In Gujarat
- VadodaraGujaratThe capital of garba: grounds where tens of thousands dance in concentric rings to live singers.
- AmbajiGujaratThe Shakti Peetha in the Aravallis; garba is danced in the temple square, the Chachar Chowk.
- The pols of AhmedabadGujaratSheri garba in the lanes of the old city, sung without loudspeakers.
- PavagadhGujaratMahakali's hill, climbed through the night.
Across India
- MumbaiMaharashtraThe Gujarati suburbs hold some of the largest dandiya nights anywhere.
- KolkataWest BengalThe eighth day is the height of Bengal's Durga Puja.
- MysuruKarnatakaThe palace lit each night of Dasara.