October 3: Navratri celebrations began on a low key on Thursday night thanks to a code of conduct observed by dandia raas organisers and compulsory use of low-powered sound systems.The efforts by the morality brigade to clean up the dandia raas programmes has begun to yield dividends, say the organisers. ``Unlike last year we have decided to ban manufacturers of gutkha, pan masala and other intoxicants from sponsoring the dandia programmes,'' said Gobardhan Chavan, who controls nearly 35 navratri mandals in the suburbs.He added that the programmes need to have a dharmik bhaavna (religious ambience) and hence the mandals were requested not to seek sponsorships from such manufacturers. BJP MLA Kirit Somaiya added that manufacturers of ice-cream and other consumer goods could sponsor the programmes.Mumbai almost missed the gala dandia raas programmes which heralds the festival season in the metropolis. Last minute efforts by the state government resulted in the Bombay High Court vacating a stay order on the conduct of the programmes in municipal grounds and near schools.Among the famous dandia raas programmes are those organised by the Glorius Charitable Trust, Kandivli, Sankalp Group at SNDT grounds, Vile Parle and the Arora Jain Jagruti Group at Ghatkopar.While Chavan said that a large number of BMC playgrounds were being used for the festival, Municipal Commissioner Girish Gokhale was unaware if this.``The BMC has not issued any order prohibiting the use of municipal playgrounds for dandia raas programmes,'' Gokhale told Express Newsline. S Subramanyam, ward officer, R/South ward, felt that there was no legal restriction on the conduct of navratri utsavs. ``The high court order states that the playgrounds and reserved municipal plots can be given for a short period of 12 days in a row to charitable trusts, for navratri,'' he said. Two reserved plots were alloted for the festival in his ward, he added.However, the navratri mandals who rake in lakhs of rupees from the extravaganza chafe at the restrictions. ``We would like the government to extend the dandia raas celebrations till 1 am so as to enable people reaching home late from work to participate in them,'' said Chavan.The mandals that charge hefty entry fees feel they can attract larger audiences if the closing time is extended. ``There will certainly be more people,'' said an organiser of the Sankalp.By entering into partnerships with charitable trusts, the organisers of dandia raas celebrations circumvent rules which prohibit them from profit making.According Somaiya who is also the president of Navratri Utsav Mahamandal, revelers were undaunted by orders to stop the programmes at 11.30 pm and the use of box-type sound systems. ``Nearly 3500 navratri mandals in Mumbai, Thane, Ambernath and adjoining areas have received good response from the public,'' he said.
