Archive · 27 Sep 2025
Mashaal Raas: Jamnagar's Fiery Navratri Dance Tradition
The Mashaal Raas is a special dance performed in Jamnagar during Navratri.
Twelve male dancers from the Shri Patel Yuvak Garbi Mandal dance with flaming torches and jump over burning cotton balls.
It's a way for them to show their faith in the goddess Durga.
They perform for about two decades.
The dancers also do sword and sickle dances.
It's a tradition that started with a man named Hardik Jaman Thummar, and the dance is passed down through families, with the dancers aged between 18 and 35 years old.
Mashaal Raas is a torch dance performed during Navratri in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
The dance involves 12 male dancers performing with fire torches and on burning cotton balls.
The tradition has been ongoing for two decades and is a demonstration of faith.
The dance troupe also performs other dances like Talvar Raas with swords.
Hardik Jaman Thummar started the tradition and is also the choreographer.
- Who
- Shri Patel Yuvak Garbi Mandal dancers
- What
- Mashaal Raas performance with fire torches and cotton
- When
- Performed annually during Navratri for 20 years
- Where
- Jamnagar, Gujarat
- Why
- To show faith in the goddess Durga
Tradition and Faith
Safety Concerns
Purpose of Dance
Tradition and Faith
To show devotion to Goddess Durga and community.
Safety Concerns
Potential risks of dancing with fire.
- Dance Name
- Mashaal Raas (Torch Dance)
- Location
- Jamnagar, Gujarat, India
- Duration
- Performed for 20 years
- Dancers
- 12 male dancers
- Key Feature
- Dancing with flaming torches and over burning cotton balls
- Formation
- Swastika and Trishul (trident)
- Additional Dances
- Talvar Raas (sword dance), Dantarda Raas (sickles) and Kanbi Raas
