Men Wear Sarees To Perform Garba In Ahmedabad—All Because Of A 200-Year-Old Curse | Viral Video

Every Navratri, Ahmedabad’s old city comes alive with countless rituals, but one of the most striking unfolds in Sadu Mata Ni Pol. Here, on the festival’s eighth night, men from the Barot community step into sarees and perform Garba—a practice known as Saduma na Garba that carries 200 years of history, penance, and devotion.According to legend, the tradition traces back to Saduben, a woman who once sought help from the Barot men when a Mughal nobleman demanded her as a mistress. Their refusal to protect her led to the loss of her child, after which she cursed them, declaring their descendants would be cowardly. Saduben is believed to have performed 'sati,' and ever since, the men of the community have observed this ritual as an act of repentance

and homage to her sacrifice.A video capturing this year’s celebration, shared by @awesome.amdavad, has gone viral on Instagram, crossing nearly 2 million views and sparking online admiration. Netizens lauded both the devotion and the cultural depth of the ritual.

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

"Wow I never heard this.. salute to the men...Jai mata di," one user wrote.Another explained, "a unique tradition in the heart of Ahmedabad's old city draws everyone's attention. In Sadu Mata Ni Pol, a 200-year-old ritual unfolds each year on the eighth night of Navratri, when men from the Barot community wear sarees and perform Garba to honour an ancient curse."A third comment read, "I like how men r following the ritual and not mocking or shying away."For many, the practice is not just about keeping a promise from the past, but also about humility, respect for women, and preserving the cultural fabric of Ahmedabad’s walled city.