This Navratri, there’s throbbing excitement in the air. And justifiably so, as it is that time of the year when evenings come alive — with a riot of colours, pomp and myriad dance performances.
he act of decking up for the Dandiya Raas and doing the garba has caught up with city folk — so much so, there’s a flurry of invites being made for pre-celebrations — though this time around, with an amalgamation of fusion from the smattering of distinct communities! We document some of the most interesting spins on this trend from insiders...
“Until a while ago, it was mostly about nudging your Gujarati friends to get you goodies and invite you home. But not anymore. Bengalureans from varied communities have begun hosting parties and pujas in the morning. I get invites from South Indian friends who’ve soaked up the metro vibe of the city, and host impeccable events, which have that authentic Navratri feel.
Moreover, it was only adults and the community crowd, the one’s closely associated with committees and unions, who would be there till the wee hours of the morning. However, now, you even see youngsters as young as 15 attending these Garbas and staying around till 5 am. There’s certainly more awareness and that’s what I personally feel is worth appreciating about,” shares RJ Ridhi.
Speaking about how parties hosted by other communities only add up to the flavour, Dhruv Kalro, a city-based entrepreneur who hails from a family associated with the Hebbal School, tells us, “For our grandparents, it was about playing the hosts. But being a Gujarati living in Bengaluru, I can now vouch for the fact that celebrations and participation are now a joint effort by people from varied communities.
Look at the Garba and Dandiya nights in the city, for instance. Most of the DJs and people taking charge of the cultural bit don’t have Gujju roots. Yet, they do such a neat job that you don’t even realise it’s done by an outsider. Personally, I feel this practice brings in more flavours and only adds to the energy and vibrancy of the festival. I think that’s the trend I’ve observed off late.”
Reiterating how the festive fervour is often touted as serious business, Shoba R Kalro, president of Sindhi Council of India’s National Ladies Wing and Bengaluru Ladies Chapter states,
“Dandiya is very popular among the younger generation of Sindhis. In fact, nearly three to 400 city youngsters hailing from the south and north come dressed in traditional dresses. They put in so much effort into dressing their part. But what one needs to remember is that it is no longer just about waiting for the puja and arti to end, to eat and dance the night away. A large number make sincere effort to be a part of the pujas by putting up the show for three nights, where the dances are usually performed. There’s more proactiveness, and people are more open to being a part of the back-end too. It’s more like a union of varied communities.”
Stoked about how important it is to realise that new-age youngsters are taking note of the significance of other festivals, Rajesh Valiya, a fellow Gujarati who’s also part of an organising committee tells us, “The rigid lines of community oriented programmes have blurred. The idea of celebrating Navratri with Dandiya and Garba dates back nine generations.
Everyone probably knows how the dance is synonymous with Navratri. However now, it’s not just a family or community as people of all age groups are keyed in on the trends. There’s a healthy mix. I hope there’s more encouragement to get people from different communities to run the show than just being mere spectators. I hope more people are aware that communities are more than happy to take on constructive feedback and contribute in the celebrations. That’s the essence we wish to spread through the gaiety and merry-making.”
