Garba-ready Gujarat: Security, medical arrangements, women’s safety in focus

Often hailed as the cultural capital of the state, Vadodara has witnessed hectic preparation in the run-up to Navratri. Police and administration have put in place checks and measures to ensure incident-free celebrations.

Personnel of 22 units of ‘She Team’ of Vadodara city police are set to disguise as garba players on the ground in a bid to ensure women’s safety. Giving more details, Radhika Bharai, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mahila Cell, said, “Our police personnel of the ‘She Team’ will be among the players to keep a watch on any likely incident of harassment of women… We had deployed the teams last year too, and there were no reported incidents.”

Big organisers with more than 20,000 daily registered participants have prepared to attend to medical emergencies, especially cardiac issues. From emergency exits to multiple makeshift hospitals at entry points and panels of doctors at the venue, the garba organisers are making sure that medical attention can be timely arranged.

CREDAI’s Vadodara Navratri Festival (VNF) has had its brand ambassadors (patrons) undergo lipid profiles and other important tests to ascertain fitness levels ahead of the start of the festivity. Five-bedded hospitals at two ends of the Navlakhi Ground have been set up to attend to emergencies. CREDAI (Confederation of Real Estate Developers Associations of India) is the apex organisation representing over 11,000 real estate developers across the nation.

Surat, Oct 14 (ANI): Children practice Gujarati folk dance ‘Garba’ on the eve of Navratri celebrations, in Surat on Saturday. (ANI Photo)

With decorations themed on Bougainville this year, the VNF has also promised “surprises” for patrons just like in 2022 when Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra arrived to play garba at a venue “We are expecting a special guest on October 22 and it will be a surprise for the patrons… For the regular days, we are fully geared up. In fact, our decorations this year have received rave reviews already,” said Mayank Patel of the VNF.

Meanwhile, the United Way of Baroda (UWB) Garba has trained over 120 volunteers and security personnel on the ground for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), the emergency lifesaving procedure to rescue a patient suffering a heart attack.

Among the organisers of the fanciest garba events in Gujarat, the UWB has also launched a mobile app for patrons in order to implement “sustainability” concepts this year. UWB volunteer Harsh Patel told The Indian Express that the garba ground will not only recycle water bottles collected through the app from the ground but also use the unfinished water for preparing the grounds every day.

“We have decided to add QR codes to water bottles being sold on the ground which patrons will have to scan from the app. We will collect the plastic waste for recycling; water from bottles – that is not consumed — will be collected separately and it will be used for the ground preparation process. We have also added a feature to calculate the carbon emissions from the vehicles that our patrons will use to travel every day to the garba ground and they will plant a commensurate number of trees to compensate for it. Our patrons will send us photos of the growth of the plants every two months and at the end of the year, they will receive a certificate of recognition,” said Patel.

Other prominent garba organisers like Maa Shakti in Subhanpura, Adishakti at Ajwa Road, the Karelibaug Sports and Cultural Association Garba, and the Navshakti Garba Mahotsav grounds are also ready to welcome patrons, who can buy registered passes at the venue on the days they wish to play unlike the VNF, the UWB, and the Lakshmi Vilas Palace Garbas that only grant entry to pre-registered patrons.

This year, the Vadodara Municipal Corporation’s (VMC) Health Department has also issued a notification that makes it mandatory for food stalls at garba grounds to apply for new licenses or registration under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The Health Department has also warned of “sudden surprise checks” and “strict action” against those violating the standards of food safety.

The department has also warned against displaying advertisements of tobacco and tobacco products at the venues.
The Vadodara Traffic Police have also issued a notification under the Gujarat Police Act and Gujarat Motor Vehicles Act, 1999, prohibiting the entry of heavy vehicles into the city limits to prevent accidents amid the crowd rush.
The notification prohibits heavy vehicles, except those linked to emergency services, from entering the city limits from 4 pm to 2 am between October 15 and 23, in addition to the existing prohibitory order restricting entry of heavy vehicles from 7 am to 1 pm every day. “Garba players are seen returning from the garba grounds after the end of the festivities at midnight and even later… Heavy traffic movement is observed during Navratri from 8 pm onwards and the likelihood of minor and major accidents in city limits is high. Therefore, considering the Navratri festival, the notification will remain in force from October 15 to 23,” it states. Police have also enlisted diversion routes for 15 important roadblocks placed for heavy vehicles.

Ahmedabad

The state government has been organising the Navratri Festival in Ahmedabad since 2003. This year too, the state government’s Tourism Department has organised Navratri Mahotsav at the Gujarat University Ground. It will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel accompanied by a number of ministers and Ahmedabad Mayor Pratibha Jain.

As part of the festival, traditional Sheri Garba will be organised at the venue daily between 9 pm and midnight. A Maha Arati will also be held at the venue every night at 11.45 pm. The venue will also have attractions like theme pavilions, craft bazaars, food stalls, and themed gates like Anand Nagri, Bal Nagri, Sabarmati Ashram, Atal Bridge, and Dandiya Dwar. These will remain open between 5 pm and midnight.

In order to give a boost to the handicrafts and artisans of Gujarat, various stalls will also be set up showcasing the rich craft of the state. These stalls will provide a platform for the artisans to sell their products during the festival.
Surat

Along with major players, different clubs of Surat are, for the first time, organising garba events for their registered members. The city will see 20 professional garba events for the first time too.

The Surat District Cricket Association garba at Piplod, the Surat Tennis Club garba at Athwalines, as well as the Paraizo Club, Baghban Kratos Club, and City Gymkhana, are preparing for garba events for their patrons, with all facilities including medical emergency response.

The Kesariya Navratri Group has organised the garba event at SGCCI Hall at Sarsana, dedicated to the theme of eight goddesses. “Our registrations are done online. We have laid thick carpet on 80,000 square feet area for the comfort of participants and also set up a changing room with makeup and salon facilities. We also have mobile charging points at different locations so that the participants will not have to worry about their mobile phone batteries,” said Keval Jasoliya, an organiser.

The Destiny Group has booked the Surat Indoor Stadium for the garba event and also held a promotional activity with Gujarati actors Siddharth Randeriya, Ronak Kamdar, and Vyom Nandi, who danced with some participants.
Chirag Shah of Destiny Group said, “We have kept the parking free and the refreshment items will be available at subsidised rates. Our judges will choose the top 50 every day for the prizes. Along with medical teams at the venue, we have also tied up with a private hospital to attend the medical emergencies.”

Rajkot

In Rajkot, the PDU Government Hospital organised a CPR training workshop last week. Rajkot Police Commissioner Raju Bhargav also held a meeting with garba organisers and requested them to deploy persons trained to perform CPR at the garba venue.

Some garba organisers have tied up with private hospitals to keep their staff on standby at garba venues. Surendranasinh Vala, president of Sahiyar Club, which organises Sahiyar Rasotsav, one of the biggest modern garba in Rajkot said, “We have tied up with Gokul Hospital to attend any medical emergency during the garba. A medical officer and two nurses will remain present at our garba venue with an ambulance and we have designed the revelry ground in such a way that the medical staff will be able to drive the ambulance right to the revelry ground.”

Gunubhai Delawala, president of Sargam Club, an NGO which organises Gopi Ras for women, says that they will also keep medical staff on standby. “We have our own doctors and ambulance and they will be on standby during Navratri to attend any emergency at our garba venue on DH Arts College ground even though the prevalence of heart attack among women is comparatively very very low,” said Delawala.