Curly Tales is back with the all-new season of Festivals of India presented by Samsung Galaxy. In this episode, Siddhaarth Aalambayan takes you through the colourful Navratri celebrations in Vadodara with Gujarati superstars Malhar Thakkar and Pooja Joshi. From the traditional Sheri Garba at Amba Mata ni Pol to the mesmerising Mashaal Raas, let’s see how Vadodara celebrated its beloved festival.
Vadodara’s Grand Navratri Celebrations
Navratri is celebrated with lots of fervour in different parts of India, but in Vadodara, the celebrations are regal. Known as the cultural capital of Gujarat, the city hosts some of the largest and most traditional Navratri celebrations in India. In this episode of Curly Tales’ Festivals of India, filmed with the Galaxy S26 Ultra, we explored just how grand these celebrations are.
On day one, Siddhaarth and Malhar kicked off the celebrations with Sheri Garba, a street Garba festival that is almost 200 years old and takes place at Amba Mata ni Pol. Here, a lit diya in an earthen pot is believed to be a symbol of life. Unlike modern Garba events held in large grounds, this celebration follows traditional customs, with 108 diyas lit as people dance around Durga Maa’s pratima.
After experiencing the traditional Garba at Amba Mata ni Pol, the journey continued to the next pandal to witness the magic of Mashaal Raas, a fiery folk dance unlike any other Navratri celebration. The performance originated in Jamnagar in 1957 and features 12 male dancers dressed in traditional clothes. Instead of dandiya sticks, the dancers hold mashaals as they perform in reverence for Maa Durga. Siddhaarth and the celebs captured amazing glimpses of this performance using Galaxy S26 Ultra’s Nightography feature. The result? Perfectly illuminated snaps that turned moments into cherished memories.
United Way Of Baroda’s Record-Breaking Garba
The Navratri celebrations did not end here. This Festivals of India episode also takes viewers to United Way of Baroda to witness the exhilarating celebrations in Vadodara. The energy here is something even a Coldplay concert can’t match!
One of the highlights of Vadodara’s Navratri, United Way of Baroda is known for hosting one of the world’s largest Garba events, uniting around 50,000 dancers. This year, on October 7, the Vadodara Municipal Corporation and United Way of Baroda set a Guinness World Record with 46,818 people! Unbelievable, right?
The best part is that these Garba celebrations also help raise funds for charity. Thousands of people joined on the ground to dance, and Pooja Joshi showed her Garba moves. Siddhaarth captured incredible snaps of the Gujarati superstars dancing, using the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s Super Steady mode with Horizontal Lock.
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Shopping For Chaniya Cholis
Navratri celebrations are incomplete without shopping, right? On day two, Malhar Thakkar and Pooja Joshi took Curly Tales festive shopping in Vadodara. Chaniya cholis are an important part of Navratri celebrations in Gujarat. These outfits showcase the traditional craftsmanship of the state. With so many colours and designs to choose from, women are truly spoilt for choice in Vadodara.
We all know that Gujaratis celebrate these nine days with plenty of events and festivities. But have you ever wondered how families celebrate the festival at home? To experience this, Siddhaarth visited a family that absolutely loves Garba. One of the girls in the family even travels back home from the US every year just to take part in the celebrations. That is how enthusiastic Gujaratis are about Garba!
The family shared how things have changed over the years. Earlier, celebrations mainly revolved around Sheri Garba, which took place within communities. Today, grand events with loudspeakers are also organised. Communities even start Garba classes in May or June, well before the festivities even begin!
The family also treated us to a spread of Falahari food suitable for fasting. The menu included Sabudana Vada, Sabudana Khichdi, Chivra, Rajgira ka Sheera, Patra, Kaju Vada and Sabudana Kheer. They also shared the significance of these celebrations in the lives of Gujaratis.
The Traditional Garba At MSU’s Fine Arts Faculty
Malhar Thakkar then took us to another highlight of Vadodara’s Navratri celebrations: the Garba organised by the Fine Arts Faculty of MSU. For the past 70 years, people from multiple generations have come together here to perform Garba in 8, 10 and 14 steps. And yes, learning these steps is no piece of cake because it can be quite challenging!
The event is exclusive to current students, former alumni, and faculty members of the Fine Arts Department. What makes it even more special is that Garba is performed without loudspeakers or electronic music systems. Instead, a troupe produces the music using traditional instruments such as the dhol, dholak, and manjira.
A Royal Ending At Laxmi Vilas Palace
Ending the Navratri celebrations in Vadodara royally, the trio headed to Laxmi Vilas Palace to experience the Royal Garba. Organised by the royal family of Vadodara, the event brings thousands of people together for an evening of dance and music, a tradition that dates back over 100 years. Even Maharani Radhikaraje Gaekwad joined us in the festivities!
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With these celebrations, we can undoubtedly say that Navratri is not just a festival for the people of Vadodara. It is a ritual, an emotion, and a legacy. Watch the full Festivals of India episode in partnership with Samsung Galaxy on Curly Tales’ YouTube channel.
Cover Image Courtesy: Internal
