Garba
/ˈɡɑːr.bə/noun
A Gujarati devotional circle dance traditionally performed during Navratri, often around a lamp or image of the goddess.
Did you know?The word comes from Sanskrit garbha, “womb” or “embryo,” and the traditional lamp at the center symbolizes life, consciousness, or the divine presence within creation.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Sanskrit
Sanskrit
garbha
“Womb, embryo, fetus, or inner chamber”
Early Sanskrit religious usage
Sanskrit
garbha-dīpa
“A lamp associated with the womb or inner sanctuary”
Medieval Gujarat
Gujarati
garbo
“A devotional song or dance performed around a lamp”
19th Century
Gujarati
garbā
“A religious dance and song tradition associated with Navratri”
20th Century
English
garba
“The Gujarati devotional dance adopted as a cultural term in English”
Modern English
English
Garba
“A widely performed South Asian circle dance, especially popular during Navratri”
Explore more surprising origins