Festival beyond fun and frolic: Garba with wild concerns

The Shri Kuber Vraj Charitable and Religious Trust, which has been organising garba for poor children and the physically-challenged for the last 25 years, now plans to do some charity for people who help animals.

8220;Over the years, with the money collected during Navratri, we have provided monetary aid to the unprivileged and the physically challenged. But this is the first time that we will help those who help animals,8221; said Harbinder Singh Dhillon, organiser of Shri Kuber Vraj Charitable and Religious Trust.

The money collected will be given to Wild Life Rescue Team, a city-based organisation that rescues animals in distress. 8220;I have seen them rescuing crocodiles and snakes with bare hands, in heavy rain. They lack basic amenities, but that does not deter them from their good deed. I don8217;t know how much we will collect during the next nine days, but we plan to get them an animal ambulance, better cages, ropes, injections and all other amenities they need for rescue operations,8221; said Dhillon.

The organisers of this garba 8212;which is held at Fatehgunj, and can accomodate at least 2,500 people on the ground 8212; have said no to advertisements in and around the venue. They have also decided not to have a pass system for raising funds, but are encouraging donations, which will directly go to the animal rescue team.

During the nine nights of festivities, over 2,500 people gather here and 1,500 are those from the neighbouring slums. 8220;Every ground in the city has expensive entry passes. And not everybody can afford it. This does not mean that we leave such people out from the fun,8221; said Dhillon.