Move Over Ladies: Men In Sarees Rock 200-Year-Old Garba Tradition In Ahmedabad

In the narrow lanes of Sadu Mata Ni Pol in Ahmedabad’s walled city, a 200-year-old tradition unfolds every Navratri as on the festival’s eighth night, men from the Barot community dress in sarees and perform Garba. This unique practice known as Saduma na Garba is rooted in a centuries-old story of devotion, betrayal and penance. A clip from the event went viral, garnering 1.9 million views and over 60,000 likes, sparking conversations about history, culture and gender roles.

Why Men Dance In Sarees To Mark Navratri In Ahmedabad?

According to local lore, the ritual commemorates the tragic story of Saduben, a woman who sought protection from the men of her community when a Mughal nobleman tried to take her as a concubine. The men refused to defend

her and Saduben lost her child. Heartbroken, she cursed the men, saying that their descendants would be cowardly. She later committed sati, leaving behind a legacy that the community continues to remember with penance.

To this day, men of the Barot community wear sarees during Garba on the eighth night of Navratri, symbolising humility and repentance while also paying tribute to Saduben’s sacrifice.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Awesome Amdavad || Ahmedabad Previously || (@awesome.amdavad)

The Instagram video sparked admiration on social media with on user commenting, “And some people were mocking a minister by making him wear a saree… They need to watch this video!!! Jai Mata Di.”

Another wrote, “A 200-year-old tradition where men from the Barot community dress as women as an act of penance and apology for their inability to protect Saduma” while a third said, “This is to teach men humility and respect for women. Something like this happens in parts of Bengal as well.”