Remeniscing the myriad colours of those Navratri days
These are some snippets about my memories of Navratri as this is the season when nostalgia hits hard.
The time of the year when there is slight nip in the
temperature and the feel of festiveness everywhere, arrives the festival of
Navratri. This festival holds a very special place in my heart. And not just
mine but hearts of many hundreds and thousands who spent their childhood and
youth in Gujarat.
Basically it is observed to celebrate the victory of good
over evil. Of Ram over Ravana. Of Maa Durga over Mahishasura. Festival of pooja
and piety. But for those like me it is the longest dance festival in the world.
Enthusiasm, pomp and fervour at peak.
I don’t remember when exactly the “Garba-Keeda” bit me but I
vividly remember that I was around 5-6 years old, and those were the days of
“Sheri Garba” (Street Garba). Garbas used to start around 11.00 pm and continue
till wee hours of morning. I used to sleep early and ask mummy to wake me up at
garba time and used to go play garba till mummy literally used to drag me home
so that I could attend school the next day. Ah! Those carefree days of
childhood.
image of a sheri garba
Come pre-teens and the time curfew during garba was relaxed
but mainly due to the fact that we used to play in the society compound just at
stone’s throw distance from home. But all eager to grow up a bit more and
venture to the big and famous Garba grounds of the city. Garba of Baroda have a
really special place in my heart because it has not lost its traditionalism to
the Bollywood style disco dandiya (it sounds also weird) of other major cities
of Gujarat.
Soon came the time for the “United Ways Of Baroda”. The
whole school gang of about 13-15 young boys and girls would go there. We would
all meet at a pre decided place and then off to garba ground to be drowned in the mesmerising voice of Atul Purohit (specially when he sings “tara vina shyaam” It
feels like heaven) and dance like there’s no tomorrow even forgetting the fact
that despite pain in the legs there will be no relaxation from the school the
next day. And also such a lovely time for those first love and young lovers
with no parent policing all 9 nights were a sure shot date nights!
ariel view of united way of baroda. image source:google
The preparations used to start a month in advance. Buying of
chaniya choli and jewelleries. There’s a bazaar dedicated to this stuff and
during this time it is all abuzz with people like me hunting for trendiest
cholis and jewelleries. Oh! How we used to enjoy getting all decked up for the
garba. All the girls assembling at a particular girl’s place and getting ready
and putting on make-up! That indeed was a privilege as freedom to wear make-up
was also given only during this time of the year. And how can I forget the
yummy Gujarati street food stall in the ground and hogging on it after the
garbas.
Khichu/papdi no lot.. the most famous and sought after food during garba
A particular incident comes to mind. During one such
Navratri my cousin got selected for state level tennis tournament and she had
to go out of town for her match. Everybody was after her persuading her to go.
Even her school principal left no stone unturned but in vain. How in world
would she miss two consecutive nights of garba for a tennis match! Now I wonder
how difficult it must be for her to be in Australia and miss the festival. Time
sure is very mean.
Soon things also took turn for me. After marriage I shifted
to Indore. Initially being very new in the city I had no idea about how
Navratri was celebrated here and moreover married to Bengali I started getting
introduced to Durga Puja, which is celebrated with equal pomp. Then I learnt
that in order to do garba here we have to first get registered following which
there will be practice of one month and then when navratri comes actual garba
will take place only for 5 days instead of all 9 days. Practice? Practice! I
had never heard about practicing before garba and was not much interested.
However after missing it for 6 years in a row I finally made up my mind and got
registered at one of the famous group which conducts garba and even went for
practice and eventually I found that I actually enjoy that practice part. It
actually is an excuse to get a feel of Garba for a longer time. And the best
part is that after enjoying navratri for first five days we enjoy the food and
festivities of Durga puja the last five days.
Durga Maa's idol during Durga Pooja
My sweetheart. Image subjected to copyright
Durga pujo anytime😁😁😁😁
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