BEATING THE PANDEMIC SLUMP, GUJARAT GEARS UP FOR GARBA THIS NAVARATRI

Navratri, which is celebrated with huge pomp and show in Gujarat, is around the corner and people are very excited this year as their favourite festival will finally be celebrated after two years owing to Covid-19 and lockdown across the country.

The Garba classes are seeing huge crowds as everyone wants to enjoy the festival to the fullest and show off their dance moves during Navratri.

Vandana Trivedi, owner of Raas Garba classes in Gandhinagar, said that due to the excitement among the people this year, they had to start our classes from the month of June and the number of students has doubled this time.

“There is no age bar amongst the people who want to learn new steps of Garba, Dodhiya and new styles. This time we have many Garba enthusiasts who are above the age of 50 years who have enrolled in our classes,” she added.

Mukesha, a 54-year-old Garba enthusiast who is learning the new techniques at the classes said, “We generally used to play regular Garba in our society, but this year we will be enjoying Navratri after 2 years and hence I along with my society friends decided to make the most of it and we have learned various new steps as well as Kutchchi garba.”

Shardiya Navratri begins on the first day of Shukla Paksha in the Ashwin month, and it is dedicated to the nine forms of Maa Durga.Garba is performed generally around the idol of Goddess Durga.

Ashish Parmar, a garba trainer, said that they have been thinking of new steps for the last two years and it is now time to teach the same to the garba enthusiasts who are eager to learn something new.

The festival of Navratri starts on the 26th September this year.