📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / AKS.9955
Business
Garba’s Rise: From Village Dance to Multi‑Crore Business in Gujarat
✍️ The Indian Express
🗓 12 Oct 2026, 09:01 AM
👁 34
The traditional Gujarati folk dance Garba has evolved from rural celebrations into a multi‑crore industry, driven by commercial events, tourism and merchandise.
Garba, a folk dance performed during Navratri, has long been a cultural hallmark of Gujarat's villages. In recent years, the dance has attracted large-scale commercial interest, with organizers staging elaborate shows that draw tourists from across India and abroad.
Entrepreneurs have capitalised on this momentum, launching Garba-themed apparel, music albums, and event management firms that generate multi‑crore revenues each season. Sponsorship deals, ticket sales and ancillary services such as food stalls and travel packages have turned the traditional celebration into a lucrative business model.
Industry analysts note that the growth of Garba as a commercial venture has also spurred job creation in the state, from costume designers to event technicians. While the dance retains its cultural roots, its modern incarnation underscores Gujarat's ability to blend heritage with entrepreneurship.
Local authorities are now collaborating with private players to ensure that the expansion remains sustainable, preserving the authenticity of the art form while supporting economic development.
Entrepreneurs have capitalised on this momentum, launching Garba-themed apparel, music albums, and event management firms that generate multi‑crore revenues each season. Sponsorship deals, ticket sales and ancillary services such as food stalls and travel packages have turned the traditional celebration into a lucrative business model.
Industry analysts note that the growth of Garba as a commercial venture has also spurred job creation in the state, from costume designers to event technicians. While the dance retains its cultural roots, its modern incarnation underscores Gujarat's ability to blend heritage with entrepreneurship.
Local authorities are now collaborating with private players to ensure that the expansion remains sustainable, preserving the authenticity of the art form while supporting economic development.