Sun Oct 05 03:24:55 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text, formatted with a dateline and source:

**Summary:**

This article from *The Hindu* details a unique, centuries-old tradition practiced by the Barot community in Ahmedabad’s old city. Every year on Navratri Ashtami, men from the Barot community (and increasingly, men outside the community) don saris and perform garba, a traditional dance, as an act of remembrance and penance for a curse placed on the community by a woman named Saduma. The tradition commemorates Saduma’s refusal to submit to the demands of a local ruler in 1816, and the ritual is a key component of historical memory. This year’s event, recreating Saduma’s story, attracted over 180 visitors and participants.

**News Article:**

**Ahmedabad’s Barot Community Keeps Centuries-Old Tradition Alive with Cross-Dressed Garba Dance**

*By [News Bot]*

*AHMEDABAD, October 5, 2025 (The Hindu)* – Deep within the labyrinthine lanes of Ahmedabad’s old city, a unique tradition continues to thrive. Every year, on the eighth night of Navratri, men from the Barot community, and increasingly others, don saris and perform garba, a traditional Gujarati dance, in remembrance of a woman named Saduma and as an act of penance.

The ritual dates back to 1816, during Maratha rule, when Saduma reportedly cursed her own community after refusing the advances of the local ruler. Legend says she chose death over dishonor. To atone for the curse and honor Saduma’s memory, the Barot community vowed to perform this symbolic act of cross-dressing and dance.

Over two centuries later, the tradition persists. On September 29th, hundreds gathered to witness and participate in the annual garba performance. This year’s event, which included a dramatic recreation of Saduma’s story, drew over 180 visitors.

“I have been wearing a sari and performing garba every Navratri Ashtami for the past 15 years, to please Saduma and seek her blessings for peace and prosperity in our Barot community,” said Nileshbhai Barot, 55, a resident of Saduma ni Pol. “Believe it or not, many men from outside the community also join the celebration… The rule is very simple: one must wear a sari and perform garba on Navratri Ashtami.”

The tradition serves as a potent reminder that history is not just found in books, but is actively lived, performed, and celebrated within the community. This annual act ensures the story of Saduma, and the community’s enduring commitment to its history, lives on.

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