Men in sarees perform 200-year-old garba ritual in Ahmedabad to lift curse. Watch

A short video from this year’s celebration, uploaded by the Instagram page Awesome Amdavad, quickly gained traction online.

In Ahmedabad’s old city, the neighbourhood of Sadu Mata Ni Pol once again hosted its distinctive Navratri observance this year, where men take part in Garba while dressed in sarees. Known as Saduma na Garba, the practice dates back more than two centuries and is linked to the story of a woman named Saduben, whose grief and curse shaped a tradition of penance for generations.

A short video from this year’s celebration, uploaded by the Instagram page Awesome Amdavad, quickly gained traction online. The clip, captioned “Saree Garba Ritual at Sadu Mata Ni Pol in Amdavad”, has since gone viral.

According to local accounts, the origins of the ritual lie in events from over 200 years ago. Saduben, faced with unwanted attention from a Mughal nobleman, appealed to the men of the Barot community for protection. When they failed to act, she lost her child and, consumed by anger and sorrow, pronounced a curse that their descendants would live without courage. She later performed sati, leaving behind a memory that the community continues to acknowledge.

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

The annual Garba in sarees is therefore considered both an act of remembrance and repentance, observed by men as a way of recognising the consequences of that historic moment.

The recent video prompted a flood of online reactions. An Instagram user commented: “Wow I never heard this.. salute to the men. Jai mata di.”

Another response read: “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.”

A third user reflected on the broader message: “This is to teach men humility and respect for women. Something like this happens in some places of Bengal as well.”