Vishwa Patel

गर्भा Garbhā (Dance of Creation)

Rooted in the visual language of Rajput miniature painting, this work reimagines the sacred Garba—a folk dance from Gujarat, India, performed in honor of the divine feminine. Dancers move in circular formations, echoing the cycles of life, cosmic unity, and the sustaining force of Śakti, the belief that the feminine is the very fabric of the universe.The characters’ clothing shifts between contemporary and historically inspired designs, piecing together generations of textile heritage. This interplay honors the evolving aesthetics of dress while grounding it in cultural memory. In the background, modern symbols like speakers place the scene firmly in the present, acknowledging how diasporic communities continue to adapt and celebrate tradition in new and vibrant ways.Through gesture, textile, and rhythm, the work celebrates Garba not just as dance, but as devotion—an embodied prayer that connects past to present, homeland to diaspora, and the sacred to the everyday.