Heavy rainfall in several parts of the state on Sunday prompted major open garba venues in Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Rajkot and Surat to cancel the day’s festivities.
On Sunday, Vadodara’s biggest garbas — United Way of Baroda (UWB), Vadodara Navratri Festival and Lukshmi Vilas Palace (LVP) heritage garba – called off the day’s celebrations, “regretting inconvenience” and citing “safety of players” as the downpour continued throughout the day. The organisers said that while their grounds had been covered safely under plastic sheets overnight, there was no reason to “risk safety” of players owing to the heavy electrification of garba venues.
Mayank Patel of Vadodara Navratri Festival, held on Navlakhi grounds, told The Indian Express, “We had already covered an area of 1.44 lakh square feet with plastic sheets and so, there is no problem with the ground. But since the rains have continued through the day and there is prediction for more in the night, we do not want to take any chances… There is heavy electrification on the ground and earthing of several lights and equipment pass through (the area). It would be risky to allow players to perform the garba in rain.”
Patel said the managing committee of VNF will decide if an additional day of garba would be announced to make up for Sunday’s wash-out. Like VNF, the UWB garba was also called off. Hemant Shah, Trustee of UWB, told The Indian Express, “Although we had covered the ground with plastic overnight, we have announced cancellation of Sunday’s garba as there has been continuous rain… Since this year’s Navratri has an extra day as per the calendar, we already have 10 days — an additional day of play, which will compensate for the washout.”
Meanwhile, some of the other garbas in the city, including one by political leader Jayesh Thakkar, announced that they would continue the festivities as usual despite the rain. In Ahmedabad too, garbas by Jigardan Gadhvi at Swarnim Nagari and Aditya Gadhvi at SG highway as well as Norta Nagari by Kirtidan Gadhvi announced that they would continue to hold the festivities.
Mayur Gor of Ghumar Garba at a farm near Zundal Circle on the SP Ring Road said the garbas were called off on Sunday. Speaking with The Indian Express, he said, “The rain has been continuing since afternoon. There is no possibility of holding Garba today (Sunday). So, we have cancelled it and posted the message on Instagram.”
Gor said that if found convenient to all, they are mulling the idea of organising garba on October 2, on Dussehra, to compensate the revellers for the cancellation. Alternatively, they will take a call on carrying forward the entry on Sunday’s pass for any of the remaining days of Navratri.
Another organiser of Garba in Science City area near Bhadaj, United Waves of Ahmedabad, too, has cancelled the event scheduled for Sunday. Jigar Barot from the group said, “We have cancelled the garba as it was just not possible to do it. We could not even attempt to drain out the water from the ground. We have informed the pass holders of the decision to cancel the garba tonight. Today’s passes will be carried forward tomorrow (Monday).”
The venue has a capacity of 12,000 people and, on an average, it has been witnessing a crowd of around 7,000-8,000 people. Barot said, “Most garba venues in Ahmedabad have cancelled it today, except for the ones who are doing it in AC domes.”
In Surat as well, heavy rainfall compelled organisers of open garbas to call off the festivities for the day. A garba organiser from Vesu said on the condition of anonymity, “We are using huge fan blowers to dry the water and moisture on the ground. We are putting in all our efforts into continuing the garba event. We have sold off the passes, and if we don’t organise (garba), we would have to refund the amount. (But) it started to rain again late in the afternoon and now we are helpless. We have to find a solution to the situation. Next year onwards, we will organise Navratri in a dome structure.”
Deputy Commissioner of Police, Special Branch, Surat, Julie Kothiya said, “This year, around 1,000 applications have been received, and among them, 15 are commercial ones, which are conducted in the dome structure, where rainfall is not an issue. A majority of other garba events are organised in the streets and open grounds, and they face problems. We have also alerted the dome structure event organisers to remain vigilant, as there will be larger crowds. We have deployed our police teams in such places to maintain law and order.”
Similar cancelation of garbas were witnessed in Rajkot too.
Earlier this week, Minister of Home Harsh Sanghavi had announced that the garba on September 28 would be dedicated to Operation Sindoor. All garba organisers across the state were asked to play songs for the theme at 11pm. With rain playing a spoilsport on Sunday, the event is expected to be held on Monday.
On Sunday, Vadodara's biggest garbas — United Way of Baroda (UWB), Vadodara Navratri Festival and Lukshmi Vilas Palace (LVP) heritage garba – called off the day's celebrations (Express Photo) 
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