Hyderabad: The Gujarati and Marwari communities are preparing to celebrate Navaratri this year by highlighting traditional customs and authenticity. Organizers from both communities are coming up with creative themes to attract people throughout the nine-day festival. While both communities celebrate Navaratri in a similar way, they each have their own unique traditions. Many Garba organizers plan to use materials that remind people of earlier times. To help participants, some organizers have already started Garba rehearsals and are offering free workshops.
Rajesh C. Shah, a trustee of the Gujarati Pragati Samaj, shared, “As people have started to forget how we traditionally celebrated by placing the Garbi, we want to promote our culture. For the past 83 years, we’ve celebrated Navaratri in its ancient form, and this year marks our 84th celebration at the Gujarati School in Koti.”
Saloni Jain from Navkar Navratri Utsav, which has been held in Begumpet for six years, added, “This year, we plan to make the celebration grand with decorations reflecting traditional Gujarati households. Our Maha Arti on Ashtami Day will be performed in a unique way, inspired by Coldplay.”
Rajesh Mehta, president of the Cyberabad Gujarati Association, said, “Every year we introduce new concepts. This year, we will organize Garba in traditional dress, similar to how people used to perform Garba around the ‘Garbi,’ a clay lantern with a ‘Diya’ inside, also known as a Garbha Deep or womb lamp. For the past 12 years, we have been hosting events at Naren Gardens Convention Center in Miyapur.”
Prakash Jadeja, who has been organizing these festivities for several years, noted, “Garba is performed with enthusiasm during these nine days, and this year we’ve received an overwhelming response. Most of the passes have already been booked well in advance.”
