Jamshedpur : After bidding a fond farewell to Lord Ganpati, denizens of Steel City are gearing up for the season with joy and anticipation by splurging on traditional Gujarati wear like the Lehenga Choli, gold jewelry and other accessories associated with the revelry.
Navratri marks the victory of the adishakti over demon Mahishasur after a battle which lasted nine days and nights. In the city the celebrations are more traditional with the thrust on cultural and religious programmes with the Bengali community adding another dimension to the celebrations by organising their traditional Durga Puja.
Gujarati Sanatan Samaj, a parent body of Gujaratis in the city is organising Navratri utsav at its premises in Bistupur from October 13.
Office bearers of the samaj said that like every year this year too there would be events to worship Goddess Durga in traditional manner together host of cultural events like ras garba, dandiya and fancy dress competition.
Once evening hits, thousands of Navratri enthusiasts dressed in their traditional wear flock to Navratri Mandals in anticipation of fun, frolic and loads of colour. After performing traditional rituals and paying homage to goddess Durga, crowds burst into song and dance.
�Garba of Gujarat is the most popular women�s folk dance of Gujarat. Today it is a social dance at all the levels of society. People from our community are performing on the folk songs to celebrate the occasion,� said Jayanti Shah, a member of the community.
�Gujarati people follow typical rituals by getting ‘Garbo’ which is a small pot made up sand very well decorated with colors and other decorative stuff and call it ‘Mataji� which means Goddess named �Ambema�. As Gujarati’s keep a small ‘Diva’ (Small Candle type Fire light) inside the �Garbo’ which has several holes inside for air ventilation,� said Ramesh Ranpara, a senior functionary of the Gujarati Sanatan Samaj.
Dressed in typical Gujarati sarees or chaniya choli (A Guju Costume) the members of the community are putting their best foot forward to show their skills in raas, garba and dandiya.
To look different during the event, the Garba enthusiasts are going for designer wares this time. City-based designer Bharati Shah said that Gujarati chainya cholis are much in demand during the season.
Meanwhile officials of Gujarati Sanatan Samaj said that they were taking care of the basic amenities of the large crowd of devotees descending to premises during the festival.
Free food and accommodation at guest houses are being made for the visiting devotees. Cultural and musical programmes performed by amateur and famous artistes are the added attraction of the festival.
