Dandiya ..? Garba Raas...?

1. What is Dandiya?
   Dandia are the sticks which are used for dance. These Dandiya sticks can vary from 1.5 to 2 feet in length, and is meant to represent the sword of the avenging Goddess Durga. The circles formed by men and women move in clockwise and anti- clockwise directions. Raas is a very energetic, colorful and playful dance providing an opportunity for acting and exchanging messages through eye contact. Nowadays dancers use metal dandiya sticks at the end of which tiny bells (ghungrus) are tied so that they give off a clear jingling sound when they strike one another.
2. How to play Dandia?
   Although Dandia steps are very interesting to execute and play. There are different styles of executing dandiya steps like Dodhiyu, simple five,simple seven, popatiyu, Trikoniya (hand movement which forms an imagery triangle), Lehree, three claps, butterfly, hudo, two claps and many more Click here more read
3. How to choose correct Dandia Sticks?
   Traditionally Dandiyas were bamboo sticks about feet in length. Today, Dandia Sticks come in numerous size, color and style.

   * Choose the revolving dandiyas which are metallic ones with a socket and ball bearing in the center, to give a good effect when the stick goes whirling in the air.

   * Choose the Acrylic dandiyas are colorful, light and attractive if want to attract the others attraction towards your Dandiya.

   * Choose wooden dandiyas which to hear that definitive sound of clashing sticks. Among wooden ones, there are wide ranges of stick to choose from from ones with tiny bells and trinkets to those with silk or fabric coatings.
4. What is Garba Raas?
   Modern Garba is also heavily influenced by Raas a dance traditionally performed by men. It is performed on 9 nights, 'Navratri' to Goddess Ambica, where women dance gracefully in circles sometimes also using, 'Bedu, Kanjari' or just 'Taali' and 'Chapti'. The word Garba is derived from the word Garba Deep meaning a lamp inside a perforated earthen pot. The light inside the perforated earthen pot symbolized the embryonic life. In this folk dance, ladies place the pot with the lamp on their heads and move in circles, singing in time measure by clapping their palms or snapping their fingers, to the accompaniment of folk instruments. Formerly associated with the legend of Krishna, Garba is now a regular feature during the Navratri puja (nine nights in honor and worship of the goddess Durga). Click here more read.
5. What is Dandiya Raas?
   Raas which is supposed to belong to Kutch and Saurashtra is performed all over Gujarat. The Raas traditions are as old as the Puranic period. In various parts of the country, Raas are danced in different manners. The main feature of Raas is dancing in a circle by men and woman, to the accompaniment of musical instruments and keeping time either by clapping or beating of two sticks.

   The number of dancers goes from 8, 16, and 32 up to 64 couples, who also sing the song. There are three varieties of Rasaka described. Danda Rasaka-Rasa dance where Danda or sticks and it is usually known as Dandiya Raas. Click here to read more.
6. What is the difference between Dandiya Raas and Garba Raas?
   The main difference between the 'Garba' and 'Dandiya' dance performances is that Garba is performed before Dandiya 'Aarti' (worshipping ritual) as devotional performances in the honor of the Goddess while Dandiya is performed after it, as a part of merriment. While Garba is performed exclusively by women, men and women join in for Dandiya. Also known as 'stick dance' as performers use a pair of colorfully decorated sticks as props, the circular movements of Dandia Raas are slightly more complex than that of Garba. The dancers strike the sticks with their partners to the rhythm of the music. The origin of these dance performances or 'Raas' can be traced back to the life of Lord Krishna. Today, 'Raas' is not only an important part of Navratri in Gujarat but extends itself to other festivals related to harvest and crops as well.
   
   

Source:dandiyazone.com