HYDERABAD: It was subdued celebrations last year due to pandemic curbs. But this year, the nine-day festival of Navratri has got off to a grand and traditional start.
The Gujarati and Marwari communities in the city are gearing up for big dandiya and garba events this year unlike last year’s restricted festivities in small gatherings at apartments.“Since we missed the celebration last year, we are going to make the most of it this time. Dasara festivities every year attract thousands. Most of us are now vaccinated, so we are ready to participate in outdoor festivities and dandiya sessions this year,” said Priyanka Agarwal from the Marwari community.
Both the Marwari and Gujarati communities celebrate the festival in a similar fashion, except for a few specific traditions of their own.
“One Marwari tradition is that for nine days we keep wheat in a new pot in a corner and add water daily. On the day of Dasara, we use the wheat leaves for puja,” said Bhavna Jain, a resident of Sindhi colony.
While it’s well-known that Gujaratis play garba during Navratri celerations, few are aware that there is dance around a garbi at home first.
“We place a garbi, which is a decorated matka and with a diya inside, at home first. After puja, every evening the women dance around the garbi and that’s why the dance is called garba,” said Ruchika Kapadia, who organises dandiya and garba events in the city.
Prakash Jadeja, who has been organising these festivities for the past several years in the city, added, “According to the ritual, we have been doing ‘Maata ki puja’ and after that start the garba sessions either in our apartment complexes, hotel or convention centre depending on the convenience of community members.”
