A candle filled with a pinch of rice and ghee, take a bundle of srifal, let's go to Pavagadh. A gardener comes from the opposite field, takes a bunch of carrots, hello hello go to Pavagadh. Flattened rice… Sonido comes from the opposite field, take a pair of brooms, go to Pavagadh. Flattened rice… A potter comes from the opposite field, with a pair of garban, go to Pavagadh. Flattened rice… The carpenter comes from the opposite field, takes a pair of stilts, Halo Halo, go to Pavagadh. Flattened rice… According to our calendar, there are four Navratris in a year. The very first Maghi Navratri means ninth from the unit of Shukla Paksha of Maha month. Second, Chaitri Navratri, then Ashadhi Navratri and finally Sharadi i.e. Aso month Navratri. Two Navratris are important for Sadhakas, Chaitri and Shardi. Aso's Navratri means the greatness of Norathan for everyone. Earlier girls used to be poor in villages, this tradition was also in cities. Now such plans are numbered, but let's be satisfied that all these are not completely extinct. Today, in small towns and cities, the modern Rasotsav, which is thrown away by all the discos, is the currency. People have to spend money, entertain in the name of Mataji, organizers have to earn – all have their own circles of interest! It all works, but whether the arrangement is of ancient garba or archaic garba, Mataji's aarti, a few garba and good folk songs are sung in such proportions that it gives a little chill. Although many Bollywood songs and album songs are sung, traditional music has not been left out, that is, instead of saying that the glass is half empty, let us spread positivity by saying that the glass is half full. 'Chapti Bhari Choka Ne Ghino Hai Diwado…' is a well-known garbo. There is hardly a singer who does not sing these garbos, meaning vernacular words and inflections. Devotees visiting Mahakali Mata, whose seat is on the hill of Pavagadh near Halol, have prepared rice, ghee lamp, shrifal. As soon as the devotees left the house, the gardener came from the opposite field with a garland of flowers for Mataji, the soni came with the ear ornaments, the potter came with the garba and the carpenter also came with the apron. Thus the Sangh grew and all went towards Pavagadh singing praises. This garbo moolat, sung in half a heench or one and a half, will be from Gujarat, as most of the devotees or Sanghas from Saurashtra make the pilgrimage to Chotila. In Kutch, the darshan of Ashapura is also increasing now, but very few people from Saurashtra go to darshan of Ambaji, Bahucharaji, Mahakali Mataji by trekking or as a group, because the distance is so great. 'Pol' is mentioned in every antara of this garba. In Saurashtra, the word street or maholla is popular. Pol gives the identity of Gujarat, especially Ahmedabad, so there is an indelible impression of Gujarat on this garba. Many singers today sing the transliterated version – Madi Paam to Maalido Aha…Malini Paam to Sonido Aha…etc but half a word is fine.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
