Poyani Ozaપોયણી ઓઝા
EN/ગુજ
An Artistic Journey

પોયણી

Poyani Oza

Dancer, choreographer and pioneer of modern Gujarati garba.

Late 1960s · on stagePoyani Oza as a young dancer on stage in classical costume, one arm stretched high and the other forward, ankle bells on her feet, a draped curtain behind. Children watch from the wings on the left. Black-and-white.
The day of Parvani · from a colourised copyPoyani Oza standing in a gold sari with heavy gold jewellery, hands folded in front, with men behind her. Colourised crop.Colourised from the original photograph
Later yearsPoyani Oza in later years, standing at home in a blue patola sari with a pink and gold border and a long necklace, beside a vase of sunflowers and a painted face carving. Colour.
An Artistic Journey

A life woven into garba

Poyani Oza grew up inside Bhavnagar's garba tradition. Her mother, Pragnaben Oza, helped bring garba from the street onto the stage in 1960, and as a girl Poyani danced in her mother's group, Nupur Zankar.

She went on to choreograph the group's younger dancers, founded her own troupe, Khushboo Kala Vrind, and in 1978 created Parvani — a programme of dance for each of Gujarat's festivals. Its Navratri garbo, Garbe Ramva Nisarya Madi, is still sung today.

Bhavnagar knew her as a pioneer of modern garba. Her work took her to Doordarshan and All India Radio, to the judging panels of the Gujarat Nritya Natya Academy, to Hong Kong, and finally to Sydney.

This site gathers her story from the people who were there. Much of it lives only in memory. If you danced with her, played for her, or watched her programmes, please share what you remember.

Source: Family · Book · Yagnesh Acharya · Press · Video

Source: Family · Book · Yagnesh Acharya · Press · Video

Her Journey

Her life at a glance

૧Pragnaben Oza (seated, right, in a checked sari with the end over her head) with the young dancers of her group, among them three of her daughters. Standing directly behind her, smiling, is Poyani Oza. In the front row, second from left, is Yaminiben Oza, and at the far right is Shobhanaben Oza (later Mehta), both Poyani's elder sisters. Probably Nupur Zankar, 1960s. Do you recognise anyone else, including the other seated woman?

Roots

Three generations
Nupur Zankar and the stage

૨Poyani Oza on stage, in classical costume. Late 1960s (estimated).

Finding her voice

Kathak and choreography
Finding her own expression

૩The day of Parvani. Poyani Oza (front, gold sari) and Mohammadbhai Dekhaiya (back row) among the group.

Bhavnagar years

Aalap · Parvani
Khushboo Kala Vrind

૪Sixteen dancers in matching costume, an older woman at each end. Undated. Do you recognise anyone?

Mentor and judge

A discerning judge
Teaching the next dancers

૫Poyani Oza, brochure portrait for Shri Garba-Raas Puran.

Hong Kong

Gujarati Samaj
Indian Arts Circle · Hindu Association

૬Poyani Oza, later years.

Sydney and later years

Judging in Sydney
Her own spoken words

Three generations

Champaben OzaPhotograph to be added

Champaben Oza

Champaben Oza — her paternal grandmother, mother of her father Pravinchandra Oza.

Family · Yagnesh Acharya

Family · Yagnesh Acharya

Pragnaben Oza, her mother, co-founder of Nupur Zankar.Close portrait of Pragnaben Oza in later life: grey hair drawn back, round gold-rimmed glasses, a red bindi, and a lilac sari with a woven gold border. Colour.

Pragnaben Oza

Pragnaben Oza — her mother, co-founder of Nupur Zankar.

Family · Yagnesh Acharya

Family · Yagnesh Acharya

Poyani Oza, later years.Poyani Oza in later years, smiling, in an orange and gold sari with a dark patterned shawl, one hand resting on a painted garbo pot, in front of a wall hung with red decorated pots. Colour.

Poyani Oza

Poyani Oza — dancer and choreographer.

Family · Yagnesh Acharya

Family · Yagnesh Acharya

The day of Parvani. Poyani Oza (front, gold sari) and Mohammadbhai Dekhaiya (back row) among the group.A large group standing in rows in front of a decorated backdrop: Poyani Oza at the front in a gold sari, with men in suits and shirts and women in saris around her. Colourised.Colourised from the original photograph
Family

Family

14 March 1978

Parvani · પરવણી

A programme of dance for each of the festivals that run through the Gujarati year. Created by Poyani Oza, premiered in Bhavnagar on 14 March 1978.

Press: Gujarat Samachar 2-4-1978 · Saurashtra Samachar 20-3-1978

Press: Gujarat Samachar 2-4-1978 · Saurashtra Samachar 20-3-1978 · press-02Press: Gujarat Samachar 2-4-1978 · Saurashtra Samachar 20-3-1978 · press-01

Her Work
Why this site exists

Much of Bhavnagar's garba history was never written down. This site keeps alive what can still be found — press cuttings, photographs, videos, and the memories of those who were there.

Share a memory