Celebrating Dasara the Gujarati way

Nine festive nights

The charm that Dandiya Ras-Garba, a dance and musical celebration that weaves through the nine days, has fascinated people from all sections of society and now it is no more restricted to the Gujaratis.

Being a metropolitan City, Bangalore is no more alien to Garba. This southern city, where there is a sizable population of Gujaratis, will also be under the spell of Garba fornine days, starting on Wedn-esday through October 6.

For the sake of those who want to experience the Garba-mania, many Gujarati associations have organised Ras Garba fests in the City. The pioneer in this field is the Bangalore Vaishnav Samaaj, which has been organising the event for the last many years.

This year, the Samaaj is organising the event at Nalapad Pavilion, Palace Grounds, from Wednesday.

The organising committee member of the Garba-Dandiya Hemant Bhai said the event would start everyday at 9.30 pm and go on till 1.30 am.  It is open to all, but consumption or serving of alcohol or any intoxicant is strictly prohibited at the venue.

Special attire

Sri Maa Mangal, an ethnic traditional music group from Kutch, has organised a Dandiya-Garba competition daily between 9 pm and 12.30 am at Princess Golf, Palace Grounds. The highlight of the competition will be the special attire with traditional ornamentation of this dance form. Dhiren Shah, one of the members of the organising Committee, said Sri Maa Mangal  has organised the event after a gap of 12 years.

The organisation aims at participation of youth, but the entry would be restricted to 2,000 people. The ‘daily’ and ‘season’ passes will be available at the venue.

A similar programme will be organised at Mantri Greens Apartment at Malleswaram, where people from all communities, including Kannadigas and Tamilians, will participate.