Growing up in Ghatkopar, Arpita Patel remembers attending Navratri nights ever since she was a child barely five years old. It was her earliest introduction to the nine-day festival that has currently taken over the country, and more particularly Mumbai, as people sing and dance their hearts out. The celebration has been more than that for her. She explains, “I learned to play Garba literally at all these Navratri Raas Dandiya grounds. While my family doesn’t have the Ghat/Garba at our home, our extended family does.” Without a doubt, she has enjoyed dancing to the music which has unique beats but over time she has noticed how it has changed in so many different ways. “As a hardcore Garba player, I have always loved the beats of Garba but the music has evolved over some time. The tunes that played when I was young were purely related to Raas Garba but now it is a mix of fusion music, Bollywood and the Garba tunes,” she adds. 

The 25-year-old city-based copywriter is one among many Mumbaikars who have witnessed the change in the music played during Navratri in Mumbai. Garba is a dance form that originated in Gujarat and is particularly performed during Navratri during this time of the year, apart from the community’s weddings. While the garba music in Gujarat hugely differs from that in Mumbai, one cannot deny the influence of modern sounds and music that showcases how the times have changed but also how the new generations are enjoying the festival. Take for example, ‘Khalasi’, the popular Gujarati song that released in 2023 and went on to become a hit during Navratri. Before that, it was ‘Char Char Bangdi Wale’ in 2019, ‘Chogada Tara’ from Loveyatri (2018), or even ‘Shubhaarambh’ from Kai Po Che (2013). Music played during Navratri has evolved in so many different ways. While purists may not like the change, the influence of modern tunes and Bollywood on the sub-genre is hard to ignore, and one that has been accepted by many people at least in Mumbai. 

Also Read: Fusion of fun and fitness: How people are turning to Garba to stay fit