Jamshedpur : The city got gripped with Dandia fever today. A variety of cultural and entertainment programmes have been lined up in the city.
Gujarati Sanatan Samaj, a parent body of Gujaratis in the city is organising Navratri utsav at its premises in Bistupur.
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.
�Like every year this time too we have made elaborate plans for the Navratri. Members of our community look forward every year for this utsav. Dressed in their traditonal attires, people would perform ras garba on the tunes of Gujarati folk songs,� said an official.
From past one week children and women of the community are busy preparing for the ras garba competitions, which are the highlights of the whole event.
Officials of Gujarati Sanatan Samaj said that die-hard Navratri revellers, would take part in various competitions that are slated during the festival. These range from best male and female dancers, best costumes, best steps, etc for which prizes are given.
�Such is the rage of the festival that many even travel to Gujarat weeks before the festival to buy the costumes and jewellery worth for the season,� said Ramesh Ranpara, a seniof functionary.
He went on to add many also attend special pre- Navratri dance classes to hone up their dancing skills, practice yoga and some even appoint a beautician for make-up to ensure they have an edge over others at the competitions.
Meanwhile, the Gujarat Club, Jamshedpur has decided to organise �Raas Garba Nite� on the occasion of Navratri.
Members of the club would participate in an evening of ras and garba. The event would be organised at BOC Pavallion of Beldih Club.
The event is being organised in association with Jamshedpur Marwari Mahila Manch. Members of both the community would participate and spread the message of harmony.
�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 Jhilmil 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 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.
Sejal Shah, senior member of the community said that Garba of Gujarat is the most popular women�s folk dance of Gujarat. Since large chunk of Gujarati speaking people reside in city its popularity has crossed all the barriers and even people from Marwari and Bengali community actively participate in it.
It may be mentioned that the festival of Navaratri is celebrated by Gujarati community which is a part of Hindu Community, and very famous for Dandiya ras and garba ras.
She said that dressed in typical Gujarati sarees or chaniya choli the members of the community would put their best foot forward to show their skills in raas, garba and dandiya.