Raas

Understand

Where Raas comes from

In the Gujarati context, Raas is the umbrella term for a family of stick- and step-dances performed during Navaratri, Holi and wedding seasons across Saurashtra and the rest of Gujarat. The dance draws on the Vaishnava mythology of Krishna's rasa-lila but in Gujarat the form is structured around partnered stick-play and processional movement rather than the concentric Manipuri circle. Distinct regional Raas forms documented in Gujarat include Dandiya Raas, Gopgunthan Solanga Raas and Mer Dandiya Raas; in Saurashtra the men's Raas is paralleled by the women's Raasda, where musical expression dominates over dance movement.

How it's practiced

Gujarati Raas is performed by men and women in paired formations, typically two facing lines that rotate clockwise, with each dancer progressing down the line to tap sticks with successive partners. Movement is rhythmic and processional — the emphasis is on footwork, stick-tapping and partner exchange rather than on elaborate solo choreography. Music is led by dhol and shehnai, with clapping and vocal refrains supporting the percussion. The form is performed at Navaratri nights, at Holi and at weddings in the Saurashtra region.