In this part of India, Western India, in Gujarat, nine nights of a particular lunar phase is celebrated passionately by performing a dance festival, Garba – a group dance performed in circular motion- around an Idol of goddess of energy – Shakti.

This lunar phase occurs around September-October months of the Gregorian calendar while by the Indian Calendar ( vikram samvat) it is celebrated during the first nine nights of the month Ashwin. The twelve months in the Indian Calendar are named Depending upon the position of moon in a particular constellation (Nakshatra),

The month in which, the full moon is in Aswhini Nakshatra, the month is called Ashwini or Ashwin month( called Aaso in Gujarati) , and during the first nine nights of this month, the festival of Navratri is celebrated.

It is believed that these are the days when positive energies of the universe are nearest to the earth. The mother earth is encompassed by the natural energy and devotees try to extract and get most of them by worshiping Goddess of Energy, celebrating mass-festivals like Durga Puja or Garba, observing fast etc.

To remain more close to the natural power of the mother of Energy and remain more conscious towards the power of almighty, the believers abstain from routine food which brings a harmony with Universe as they become less aware of their own self and go closer to the Universal forces.

Remaining awake at night time by performing group Garba under the open sky brings not only joy of group dance, but a new energy to the mass as well as each performer.

At individual level each devotee or each performer gathers a new vitality, a fresh energy, a divine energy. The listeners may also rejoice the power of spiritual music and will drench themselves in faith and philosophy.

Doing Garba during these nine nights is not only like just doing a shallow group dance, but it’s a purposeful activity cultivated since ancient times in the Indian subcontinent.

Doing the same Garba during other phase of the year may never derive similar spirit and energy to the performers.

There are other Navratris also during the year. The Chaitri Navratri fall around the months of March-April, six months after the Ashwini Navratri.

The word Garba associates itself with the word Garbh-Deep. Means a flame encompassed within a womb.

This symbolizes the Mother and the energy within, which is the root of whole mankind.

India worships Maa ( mother ) Durga as goddess of Energy and during this phase, the nation worships their Mother of Energy, in different manner. Billions observe fast for these nine days, they abstain from raw food like grains and may eat only fruits, while some even wont take salt for these Nav-Ratri ( nine nights ). On individual level, people have their varieties of ways to worship Matajee.

On larger scale, there are Durga pujas in West Bengal, while Gujarat has its own and a very peculiar way of worshipping Goddess of power and acquiring energy from the surrounding universe.

There is a profound scientific analogy and natural resemblance to the rotation of mother earth around the Sun along with the other planets, and the rotation of a Group doing Garba.

When a spinning object revolves around its own axis and also moves in circular motion around another object, it drags energy. This spinning or kinetic or centrifugal energy is what the celestial bodies possess while they keep on rotating on their own axis and also around their Sun.

If viewed from top ( North pole ), our planet earth rotates( revolves ) in anticlockwise direction and , also around Sun it rotates in anticlockwise direction. All other planets also join the mega dance. And they get energized by the power of Sun, the centre.