01
Jay Adhyashakti - જય આદ્યશક્તિ
The most sacred Garba song - this is the aarti sung at the very start of every Navratri Garba night before any dancing begins. It is a complete prayer to the Adi Shakti (the primordial power), praising all her forms from Brahma's goddess to the slayer of Mahishasura. No Garba night officially begins without this aarti. Dedicated to: Maa Adi Shakti / Amba.
Gujarati (Roman)
Jay Adhyashakti, Maa Jay Adhyashakti
Akhanda Ananda Sachchidananda
Satchit Ananda Maa...
Brahma Gyaan Pradata Maa
Vishnu Shakti Rupa Maa
Mahesh Bhakti Maa
Jay Adhyashakti Maa...
Akhanda Ananda Sachchidananda
Satchit Ananda Maa...
Brahma Gyaan Pradata Maa
Vishnu Shakti Rupa Maa
Mahesh Bhakti Maa
Jay Adhyashakti Maa...
Victory to the Primordial Power! O Mother, eternal joy, pure consciousness and bliss - you are the knowledge given to Brahma, the power of Vishnu, the devotion of Shiva. Victory, O Primordial Power!
02
Maa No Mandvo - માઁ નો મઁડવો
One of the most beloved traditional Garba songs, sung on the first night of Navratri to welcome the goddess into the sacred space. The "Mandvo" is the decorated canopy under which the goddess is installed. This song invites her to come, be seated, and accept the devotees' love. Dedicated to: Maa Amba of Ambaji.
Gujarati (Roman)
Maa no mandvo rankar re
Maa no mandvo rankar re
Amba Maa ni puja kariye
Ful chadhaviye re...
Tara mandirma divo bale
Tara charname namiye
Amba Maa ni jai boliye
Haath jodhine namiye re...
Maa no mandvo rankar re
Amba Maa ni puja kariye
Ful chadhaviye re...
Tara mandirma divo bale
Tara charname namiye
Amba Maa ni jai boliye
Haath jodhine namiye re...
The Mother's decorated canopy is resplendent! Let us perform puja of Maa Amba, let us offer flowers. In your temple a lamp burns - we bow at your feet. Let us chant the victory of Maa Amba, with folded hands we bow.
03
Ambe Maa - અંબે માઁ
Perhaps the most universally recognised Garba song across all of India - "Ambe Maa" is sung and known from Gujarat to Punjab to Bengal. Simple, rhythmic, deeply devotional - it can be sung by anyone who has attended even one Navratri event. Dedicated to: Maa Amba / Maa Durga.
Hindi
अम्बे माँ रे अम्बे माँ
अम्बे माँ रे अम्बे माँ
आदिशक्ति आदिशक्ति
आदिशक्ति अम्बे माँ...
जग जीवन जो पाले माँ
निशदिन दया करे माँ
जग जीवन जो पाले माँ
अम्बे माँ रे अम्बे माँ...
अम्बे माँ रे अम्बे माँ
आदिशक्ति आदिशक्ति
आदिशक्ति अम्बे माँ...
जग जीवन जो पाले माँ
निशदिन दया करे माँ
जग जीवन जो पाले माँ
अम्बे माँ रे अम्बे माँ...
O Maa Amba! O Maa Amba! Primordial power, primordial power - O Maa Amba! You who sustain the life of the world, O Mother - day and night you show grace. You who sustain the life of the world - O Maa Amba!
04
Khodiyar Maa Ni Aarti - ખોડિયાર માઁ ની આરતી
Khodiyar Maa - the crocodile-riding goddess of Gujarat - has her own beloved Garba songs particularly in the Saurashtra region. This aarti recounts her miraculous birth from the sage Mamaniya's family and her role as protector. Dedicated to: Maa Khodiyar of Rajpara.
Gujarati (Roman)
Jai Khodiyar Maa, Jai Khodiyar Maa
Saurashtra ni Shaan Maa
Maher tara maama re
Pita tara Mamaniya re...
Magar upar besi ne
Tun aavi re Maa
Bhaktone tari leva
Tu dhanya dhanya Maa...
Saurashtra ni Shaan Maa
Maher tara maama re
Pita tara Mamaniya re...
Magar upar besi ne
Tun aavi re Maa
Bhaktone tari leva
Tu dhanya dhanya Maa...
Victory to Khodiyar Maa! Pride of Saurashtra - your maternal uncle is Maher, your father is Mamaniya. Seated on a crocodile you came, O Mother - to save your devotees. Blessed, blessed are you, O Mother!
05
Mahishasur Mardini - महिषासुर मर्दिनी
On the sixth night of Navratri - Maa Katyayani's night, the night of the slaying of Mahishasura - Garba songs recount the great battle. This song celebrates the moment of cosmic victory when the goddess, riding her lion, plunged her trident into the demon king. Dedicated to: Maa Katyayani / Chamundeshwari.
Hindi
महिषासुर मर्दिनी माँ दुर्गे
जय जय जय महिषासुर मर्दिनी
सिंह पर सवार हो
त्रिशूल धारिणी माँ...
दश भुजाओं वाली माँ
नव दुर्गा स्वरूप
असुरों का नाश किया
जय जय दुर्गे रूप माँ...
जय जय जय महिषासुर मर्दिनी
सिंह पर सवार हो
त्रिशूल धारिणी माँ...
दश भुजाओं वाली माँ
नव दुर्गा स्वरूप
असुरों का नाश किया
जय जय दुर्गे रूप माँ...
O Mahishasura Mardini - Slayer of Mahishasura! Victory, victory, victory to the Slayer of Mahishasura! Mounted on a lion, bearing the trident - O Mother with ten arms, form of Nav Durga - you destroyed the demons. Victory, victory to Durga's form, O Mother!
06
Ranma Rangili Re - રણમા રંગીલી રે
A classic folk Garba song from Saurashtra with a lively, syncopated rhythm that naturally drives the three-clap Garba step. The song praises the goddess as the colourful, playful one of the battlefield - warrior and dancer combined. Dedicated to: Maa Randal Mata.
Gujarati (Roman)
Ranma rangili re Randal Maa
Randal Maa ni jai boliye
Heli haath pakado re
Garba khele aaj Randal Maa...
Sona ni chundadi odhadi
Haar phulo no pahereyo
Aakhi raat garba khele
Randal Maa amari re...
Randal Maa ni jai boliye
Heli haath pakado re
Garba khele aaj Randal Maa...
Sona ni chundadi odhadi
Haar phulo no pahereyo
Aakhi raat garba khele
Randal Maa amari re...
Colourful in the battlefield is Randal Maa - let us chant her victory! Come friend, take my hand - today Randal Maa is dancing Garba! Draped in a golden veil, wearing a garland of flowers - dancing Garba all night long - she is our Randal Maa!
07
Jai Jai Garvi Gujarat - જય જય ગરવી ગુજરાત
The official state song of Gujarat - composed by Narmad in 1865 and later set to music - is traditionally sung at the close of large Navratri Garba events as a final celebratory chorus. It is a hymn to the glory of Gujarat but also, in the Garba context, a celebration of the land that gave the world this tradition. Dedicated to: Gujarat and its people.
Gujarati (Roman)
Jai jai garvi Gujarat
Dhandha Dholi re
Sur na desh ma tu shobhe
Gujarat desh re...
Panch nadi no praant
Sorath re deshnun manvantun
Kathe Gujarat desh re
Jai jai garvi Gujarat...
Dhandha Dholi re
Sur na desh ma tu shobhe
Gujarat desh re...
Panch nadi no praant
Sorath re deshnun manvantun
Kathe Gujarat desh re
Jai jai garvi Gujarat...
Victory, victory to the proud Gujarat! O land of music and drums - you shine in the land of the sages. Land of five rivers, beloved region of Sorath - this is the celebrated land of Gujarat. Victory, victory to the proud Gujarat!
08
Tara Vina Shyam - તારા વિના શ્યામ
A deeply devotional Gujarati bhajan that bridges Garba and Dandiya - it praises Shyam (Krishna) and Radha, and is traditionally sung at the transition between Garba and Dandiya Raas. Composed in the style of the great Gujarati saint-poet Narsinh Mehta. Dedicated to: Shri Krishna and Radha.
Gujarati (Roman)
Tara vina Shyam mane
Ek pal chain nahi
Tari yaad ma guzare
Aakhi zindagi...
Vrindavan ma vadhave re
Rasa rachave Shyam
Gopi saath khele re
Tara vina chain nahi...
Ek pal chain nahi
Tari yaad ma guzare
Aakhi zindagi...
Vrindavan ma vadhave re
Rasa rachave Shyam
Gopi saath khele re
Tara vina chain nahi...
Without you, O Shyam, I have no peace even for a moment - my entire life passes in your memory. In Vrindavan you play the Rasa, O Shyam - you play with the Gopis - without you I have no peace.
09
Durga Chalisa - दुर्गा चालीसा
The Durga Chalisa - forty verses of praise to the goddess - is chanted as a group during Garba on Ashtami and Navami nights, replacing the usual song-based Garba with a more meditative, prayer-focused circumambulation. The circle moves slowly while the chalisa is chanted in call-and-response. Dedicated to: Maa Durga in all her nine forms.
Hindi
नमो नमो दुर्गे सुख करनी
नमो नमो अम्बे दुख हरनी
निरंकार है ज्योति तुम्हारी
तिहूँ लोक फैली उजियारी...
ब्रह्माणी रुद्राणी कामला
तू ही जग पालन हारी
सुन्दर चरित तुम्हारे देखे
तन मन अति सुखकारी...
नमो नमो अम्बे दुख हरनी
निरंकार है ज्योति तुम्हारी
तिहूँ लोक फैली उजियारी...
ब्रह्माणी रुद्राणी कामला
तू ही जग पालन हारी
सुन्दर चरित तुम्हारे देखे
तन मन अति सुखकारी...
Salutations, salutations to Durga - bringer of joy! Salutations, salutations to Amba - remover of sorrow! Your light is formless, it spreads across all three worlds. You are Brahmaani, Rudrani, Kamala - you are the sustainer of the world. Seeing your beautiful qualities and form brings great joy to body and mind.
10
Nava Durga Stuti - नव दुर्गा स्तुति
The Nav Durga Stuti - a prayer praising all nine forms of the goddess one by one - is sung on the final night of Navratri Garba as the grand closing. Each verse praises one form, giving the Garba circle a moment to honour each of the nine nights as they come to a close. It is simultaneously a farewell to each form of the goddess until the next Navratri. Dedicated to: All nine Nav Durgas together.
Hindi
प्रथम शैलपुत्री माँ
द्वितीया ब्रह्मचारिणी माँ
तृतीया चंद्रघंटा माँ
चतुर्थी कूष्माण्डा माँ...
पंचमी स्कंदमाता माँ
षष्ठी कात्यायनी माँ
सप्तमी कालरात्रि माँ
अष्टमी महागौरी माँ
नवमी सिद्धिदात्री माँ
नव दुर्गा की जय हो माँ!
द्वितीया ब्रह्मचारिणी माँ
तृतीया चंद्रघंटा माँ
चतुर्थी कूष्माण्डा माँ...
पंचमी स्कंदमाता माँ
षष्ठी कात्यायनी माँ
सप्तमी कालरात्रि माँ
अष्टमी महागौरी माँ
नवमी सिद्धिदात्री माँ
नव दुर्गा की जय हो माँ!
First - Maa Shailputri! Second - Maa Brahmacharini! Third - Maa Chandraghanta! Fourth - Maa Kushmanda! Fifth - Maa Skandamata! Sixth - Maa Katyayani! Seventh - Maa Kalaratri! Eighth - Maa Mahagauri! Ninth - Maa Siddhidatri! Victory to all nine Durgas, O Mother!
हिन्दी
गरबा गीत - देवी की स्तुति में संगीत
गरबा गीत (गरबा गेय) केवल लोकगीत नहीं हैं - ये देवी की स्तुति के गीत हैं। हर गरबा गीत किसी देवी के विशेष स्वरूप की प्रशंसा करता है - माँ अम्बा, माँ रंडल, माँ कालिका, माँ खोडियार। गरबा की शुरुआत "जय आद्यशक्ति" आरती से होती है और यह नवमी की रात नव दुर्गा स्तुति पर समाप्त होती है।
इन गीतों को सुनना और गाना ही एक प्रकार की देवी उपासना है। जो भक्त गरबे में शामिल नहीं हो सकते, वे घर पर बैठकर ये गीत सुनकर भी देवी का आशीर्वाद प्राप्त कर सकते हैं।