Village garbas still out of bounds for downtrodden

Even as the state government has gone out of its way to welcome the rest of the world into the folds of garba, Dalit women in many villages across rural Gujarat are not allowed to join in the festive dance.

“Like everyone, we too feel like doing the garba, but then we are never allowed,” said Savita Rohit, a Dalit woman from Sunalpura village under Khambhat taluka of Anand district. “They simply throw us out if we try to get in there,” she added.

Not only that, during the nine days of Navratri, the Dalits in the village are also denied milk, as the Bharwad community, that is largely in the milk business, avoids coming in contact with the Dalits during this ‘auspicious’ period. “We know it is wrong, but then nobody has ever complained about this ever. Why should we put our neck on the line?” Savita said.

Pushpa Solanki from Khorsam village at Chanasma block of Patan district, said: “On Thursday, a middle-aged lady asked about my caste when I went for garba. On learning that I am a Dalit, she asked me to leave the place saying that I have no right to participate in garba. Later, she physically dragged me out of the ring.”

Nimisha Parmar from the adjoining Chanasma village has a slightly better story to tell. “They do allow us to dance in the village garba, but on the eighth night of Navratri, garba is held at the village Ramji Temple, where Dalits are denied entry,” she said.

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