Navratri 2013 to begin after few hours, parts of Gujarat cloudy, loudspeaker allowed only upto 12.00

Ahmedabad, 4 October 2013

(Last year’s Vibrant Navratri aarti video from archive)

Navratri – 2013 begins from Saturday, October 5th. The festival of Dussehra will be celebrated on 9th day of Navratri, October 13th. This means the last day of Navratri and Dussehra will be celebrated at the same time. Last Navratri and Dussehra both were celebrated together in year 2003 and 2005 also.

Like every year, a grand inaugural celebration of Navratri will take place at Ahmedabad’s GMDC ground where Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi and other dignitaries will attend the opening function. Shri Modi couldn’t attend the inaugural function and aarti last year due to code of conduct imposed by Election Commission of India.

As per the order by Gujarat High Court, loud speakers are allowed to function only upto 12.00 during Navratri nights.

Possibility of showers during Navratri high

The number of professionally organized Navratri events is down this year compared to past due to pre-Navratri rains. Even now, on Friday when Navratri is just few hours away, the city of Ahmedabad is dark cloudy. There are reports of upto 2 inch showers in parts of Gujarat today. Places like Amreli, Liliya, Gariadhar, Surat, Bharuch among others today witnessed showers. Navratri is celebrated in open grounds, and even lightest rain during nine nights can affect celebrations.