The Distorted Face of Today’s Garba Nights

 

Witnessing the current form of Garba Nights brings deep sorrow and anger. What was once meant to be a sacred celebration—devoted to the worship of Maa Adishakti and reverence for her nine divine forms—has, in many places, been reduced to something resembling a nightclub. Instead of devotional songs and traditional drums, one now hears film numbers like “Chumma Chumma De De” and “Bheegi Bheegi Raaton Mein” blaring through the pandals. Such obscenity before the Mother Goddess? This is not modernity—it is outright desecration.

The bigger concern is that some so-called “modern girls” and “feminists” misinterpret this distortion as progress. With little understanding of Sanatan Dharma or respect for our traditions, they dress up, perform, and flaunt themselves on stage, considering it a badge of being “modern.” But is this truly progress? To mock religion and culture, to promote vulgarity at sacred venues, and then to call it advancement—this is not progress, but the decline of our cultural heritage, values, and norms.

The truth is evident: when it is time to play Garba, thousands gather, but when it comes to worshipping and offering prayers to Maa Adishakti, only a handful remain. Why is this so? If one’s purpose is merely to dance, sing, and showcase themselves, then clubs, pubs, or private gatherings are more suitable, not pandals consecrated to the Goddess. These nine days are meant for renunciation, discipline, and deeper spiritual connection with the Almighty, not for making it commercial and vulgar.

No other religion or community would tolerate such mockery of its sacred rituals. Yet here, many among us are engaged in corrupting the very pious traditions of Sanatan Dharma. Remember this: those who cannot respect their culture or the worship of the Divine Mother cannot be termed as modern; rather, they are hollow and directionless.

Although modernization is inevitable, it should never be used as an excuse to taint the purity of Garba or the devotion to Maa Adishakti. Garba is the soul of our devotion, our faith, and our divine legacy. It must be celebrated with the same sanctity and reverence as we inherited from our ancestors. Some may disagree with these words, but this is the bitter truth: to protect our culture, we must recognize the decay and work collectively to preserve it. For no nation can thrive without its faith and cultural heritage; when religion and tradition fade, that nation too inevitably moves towards decline.