"I have been attending garba since childhood, but it's far from what traditional celebrations used to be in Gujarat. From the music and instruments to the artists, dance steps, and even community involvement, everything once carried a strong cultural essence. Now, it has all become commercialised," said Ahmedabad-based Mayuri Varkey, who has been attending garba for over two decades.

'Sheri garba'—once the most traditional form of the folk dance after 'Dakla' and 'Mandli'—is now almost extinct in Gujarat, 34-year-old Varkey said. "Back in the early 2000s, it wasn't about outfits, celebrities, or Instagram. People would dance and pray together, as a community," said the Ahmedabad-based teaching associate at CEPT University.

Garba, derived from the Sanskrit word "garbha", meaning womb, i

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