Dandiya raas is a paired stick-dance performed during Navratri, using two short wooden sticks (dandiya) about 12 to 18 inches long, held one in each hand. The basic step is a four-count strike pattern: right stick to partner’s right, left stick to partner’s left, right stick to own right then partner’s left, with footwork moving in a circular formation. Beginners learn the simplest two-stick step first, then add the four-person and eight-person formations. This article covers the basic step, the standard formations, the count, the attire, and what a first-night dancer typically gets wrong.
The sticks and the grip
The dandiya are short polished wooden sticks, usually 12 to 18 inches long and tipped at the ends with decorative metal caps or coloured tape. They are held one in each hand, with the grip near the centre rather than the end; this gives better control and reduces the risk of dropping. The wrist does most of the work, not the shoulder.
The strike is a tap, not a swing. The sticks meet at chest or shoulder height, with both partners moving their sticks toward the meeting point at the same time. A hard swing risks hitting a hand or face and breaks the rhythm of the circle.
The basic four-count step
The foundational step is a four-count pattern, learnt facing a single partner before being expanded into the circle. Stand facing your partner about an arm’s length apart:
- Count 1: Step forward with your right foot. Strike your partner’s right stick with your right stick (a single tap at chest height).
- Count 2: Bring your left foot to meet the right. Strike your partner’s left stick with your left stick.
- Count 3: Step back with your right foot. Tap your own right stick against your own left stick at chest level (a self-tap).
- Count 4: Bring your left foot to meet the right. Strike your partner’s right stick with your left stick (a cross-tap).
Repeat. The whole sequence runs to a four-beat musical measure, which matches almost every garba-dandiya track. Once the four-count is comfortable, the partners rotate position: after every four or eight repetitions, both dancers move one step clockwise so each meets a new partner.
The circular formation
The community dandiya is danced in two concentric circles facing each other. The inner circle is one ring of dancers facing outward; the outer circle is a second ring facing inward. Each dancer has a partner directly opposite. After each four-count cycle, the inner circle rotates clockwise by one position and the outer circle rotates anticlockwise; each dancer thus gets a new partner with every cycle.
The continuous rotation is the social heart of dandiya raas. Over a single song, every dancer in the circle meets every dancer in the opposite circle. This is why dandiya was historically a courtship-friendly form: it gave young men and women a structured way to dance briefly with everyone present without singling anyone out.
Variations on the basic step
Once the four-count is comfortable, three common variations build from it:
- Six-count step: adds two extra taps in the middle of the cycle, one over the head, one near the floor. Used in faster songs to fill the longer measure.
- Spin (chakkar): on counts 3-4, instead of stepping back, the dancer spins 360 degrees clockwise, keeping the sticks raised. Returns to position for the next count 1. This is the move most beginners try too early.
- Eight-count cross: two dancers pair with two more dancers from adjacent positions, exchanging sticks across a four-person diamond. Used in the centre of larger events as a display formation.
The four-count is the entry point. Skipping it to attempt the spin or the eight-count first is the most common beginner mistake, and it usually ends with a dropped stick or a hit knuckle.
Garba versus dandiya: the relationship
Garba is the circular dance with hand claps, performed around a central lamp (garbo). Dandiya raas is the paired stick version. The two are usually danced in the same evening, with garba in the earlier part and dandiya later. The footwork is related but the timing is different: garba claps are on the off-beat, dandiya strikes are on the beat.
Most modern Navratri events alternate. A song or two of garba, then the DJ calls for dandiya, the dancers reach for their sticks, and the circle reforms. The mythological reading of dandiya raas connects it to the Krishna-Gopi raas in Vrindavan; the connection to the goddess of Navratri is sometimes explained as the sticks symbolising Durga’s sword striking down Mahishasura.
Attire and what to wear
The traditional attire is functional first, decorative second:
- For women: chaniya choli — a three-piece outfit of a long flared skirt (chaniya), a fitted blouse (choli), and a dupatta. The skirt flares as the dancer spins, which is functional for the move. Heavily mirrored Kutchi work is the highest tradition; modern versions are lighter and more affordable.
- For men: kediyu (a short flared tunic) with a dhoti or pyjama, sometimes with a turban (paghdi). The full Saurashtra look adds a wide waist sash (kamarbandh).
- Footwear: simple jutti or mojri shoes, soft-soled. Heels are unsuitable for the footwork and the long evening.
- Jewellery: minimal for the wrists (the sticks need clearance), heavier for the neck and earrings.
For what it’s worth, a borrowed or rented chaniya choli for the first event is the practical choice. A well-made one costs a meaningful sum and most dancers do not yet know what fit and weight work for them until after a few evenings.
Common questions
How long does it take to learn the basic step?
Most beginners can hold the four-count step comfortably after thirty to sixty minutes of practice with a partner and a counted track at moderate tempo. Adding the rotation through the circle takes another evening of practice. The spin (chakkar) typically takes a few more sessions to do without losing balance. A first-time dancer can comfortably hold a place in the slower part of a community garba evening after one or two practice sessions.
What is the right music tempo for learning?
Standard garba-dandiya tracks run between 100 and 140 beats per minute. The slower devotional garba (Pankhida, Gori Radha) sits at the lower end and is the right tempo for learning. Fast tracks like Sanedo or the late-night film remixes climb to 150+ bpm and are too fast for a beginner’s hands and feet. Most modern garba-dandiya albums label the tempo on the track listing; if not, slow practice tracks are widely available online.
Can men and women dance together?
Yes; community dandiya raas has been mixed-gender for centuries. The two concentric circles are usually women in one and men in the other, with partners pairing across the rings. Some traditional Saurashtra forms (raasada, hudo) are single-gender, but the standard Navratri dandiya is mixed. The modern garba night in any major city is mixed by default.
A limitation worth noting
This is a basic step guide; serious dandiya has many more formations (the eight-person star, the spiral entry-exit, the Kutchi double-stick variation) that this overview does not cover. Regional traditions also vary: the Vadodara raas style is distinct from the Saurashtra raasada, which is distinct from the Mumbai stage style of Falguni Pathak events. Live instruction from a local dance teacher or an experienced partner is the practical way to learn beyond the basic step described here.
For more on the dance form and its history, see the Dandiya Raas entry on Wikipedia and the entry on Raas.
