Navratri Festival starts in Gujarat and all over the world : This Navratri will be 9 days long duration. It is associated with the prominent battle that took place between Durga and demon Mahishasura and celebrates the victory of Good over Evil. These nine days are solely dedicated to Goddess Durga and her nine Avatars – the Navadurga.
This time due to Coronavirus crisis, it is a very different and restrictive scenario. Locals have to seek permission from police to do Aarti in their society by a letter from Chairman and Secretary of the society.
There was a trend to buy latest design Chania-Choli from streets of Law Garden, Rani no Hajiro and Nehrunagar. The places were crowded all week as people kept shopping till last moment. Most garba organizers are fully geared for a good show and most are expecting footfalls of 10,000 and upwards, depending on the size of their venue.
There are religious celebrations in walled city and apartments in the city with Garba in small groups like Sheri Garbas held in earleir days. 9 days are considered to be auspicious for launch of new projects, business ventures, purchase of property and vehicles and for social occasions. There is a traditional celebration of Navratri in walled city and small towns.
Due to Covid-19 crisis, youngsters will miss, big Navratri celebration in clubs and party plots with DJ party and popular singer/performers with extravagant lighting and sound effects, live coverage, entry passes, big event organizers and celebrity visits at the site. Youth gets tattoo painted on their face, wrist and girls especially on neck or back. Tattoo studios gets good business this days. Youth generally temporary tattoos made or paste stickers on them. Girls turn up in traditional Chaniya Choli and boys in Kediyu-Kurta. They use Dandiya to play Garba during the Season. In end of every Garba, there is invariablly a call for SANEDO… SANEDO.. SANEDO.. which enlighten all youth and people at the site.
People keep lamps lighted in their houses with worshipping of Goddess Amba by doing bhajans and taking Darshan, preparing special Prasad and offering it to goddess. Devotees observe fast for 9 days. Temples are full of devotees coming for Darshan.
Celebration of Navratri is very famous in Gujarat and India. Even in abroad countries like USA, UK, Canada and Australia engage Indian Garba artists and enjoy Garba on large scale. NRIs Non Resident Indians, NRGs Non Resident Gujaratis, Indian community connect with India from abroad. Their body is in foreign land by soul is in Indian soil.
This year importance of Sheri Garba has started.
