Amit Shah Participates in Navratri Garba Celebrations in Gujarat

Gandhinagar: Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah participated in a raas garba celebration organised by the Navratri Yuvak Mandal in Kolvada village of Gujarat's Gandhinagar district during Navratri.

In a post on social media platform X, Shah highlighted the cultural and religious significance of garba. Sharing his message in Gujarati, he described the traditional dance as an expression of devotion to Maa Shakti and a reflection of Gujarat's cultural heritage.

Earlier in the day, Shah reportedly visited Jain spiritual leaders in Ahmedabad and offered prayers at the Varadayini Mata temple in Rupal village, Gandhinagar district. During the visit to the temple, he laid the foundation stone for a proposed 81-foot-tall statue of Lord Shiva, according to information shared by officials.

Shah later visited the Bahuchara Mata temple in Mansa with his family and participated in the evening aarti. He prayed for the well-being of people in Gujarat and across the country, officials said.

His participation in the Kolvada garba programme formed part of his reported religious and cultural engagements during the Navratri festival.

Navratri is a nine-night Hindu festival dedicated to the worship of the divine feminine. In Gujarat, the festival is widely observed through prayers, temple visits and community celebrations featuring traditional music and dance.

Garba is commonly performed in a circle around an image or representation of the Goddess, with participants moving to devotional songs and rhythmic clapping. Raas is another traditional dance associated with the festival and is often performed using decorated wooden sticks known as dandiyas.

These dance traditions remain an important part of Gujarat's Navratri celebrations, bringing people together through cultural performances and religious observances.