Bhavai
Garbha
Bhavai
Bhavai is the bawdy and sometimes poignant rural
theatre of Gujarat, attributed to an outcaste Brahmin, Asaita Thakar,
of the fourteenth century. While attempting to rescue the daughter
of his patron, Asaita was compelled to sit down to a meal with
her. This was the condition of release of her abductor, who knew that
a Brahmin was forbidden from dining with those of lower castes.
Asaita was thus excommunicated. Together with his sons and
other Brahmins, he turned to dancing and formed the first Bhaviya
(strolling players) of Gujarat.
Bhavai is traditionally associated with the festivals
of the mother goddesses Ambaji and Bahucharaji (the
patroness of Bhavai). The Navratri festival is
a favored time for performances, although the subject matter may just
as easily be the community members themselves. The venue is either
the temple courtyard or the street facing the temple. Performances
begin at 10 p.m. after the villagers have finished with their daily
chores.
Humor plays a vital part in any Bhavai performance
and comes into play even while dealing with mythological personages.
This predominance makes Bhavai unique among the traditional
arts of India.
The language of Bhavai is a blend of Gujarati,
Hindi, Urdu, and Marwari. Stories (known as
vesa which means costume) were published for the first time
in the nineteenth century. Past performances were linked to their
predecessors through practice and the oral tradition.
The bhungal is a four feet long copper pipe that
provides a strong note and is unique to Bhavai. The bhungals
are played during dance sequences and otherwise to indicate important
characters. Other musical instruments that form part of Bhavai
are the pakhwaja (drums), jhanjha (cymbals), the
sarangi (a stringed instrument), and the harmonium. The style
of music is always Hindustani interspersed with local tunes.
Attempts to revive Bhavai have been very successful.
Two efforts have been noteworthy, in terms of their fidelity to the
form and the dedication demonstrated by the persons concerned. These
are the plays Jasma Odan produced by Shanta Gandhi and Mena
Gujari produced by Deena Gandhi. 
Garbha
A graceful, rather unique dance associated with the
raas lila of Krishna and the gopis (female
cowherds). This is danced by both men and women, moving in a circle
holding and clicking painted sticks with attached bells. These are
the famous dandiya sticks and have led to Garbha being
referred to as dandiya raas. Formerly associated with the legend
of Krishna, Garbha is now a regular feature during the Navratri
puja (nine nights in honor and worship of the goddess Durga).
