Gandhinagar: Navratri, a 9-night festival of bhakti, shakti and aaradhana is beginning today on October 15 this year. The ninth night will fall on October 23 and with that Navratri this year will end, followed by Dussehra on October 24.

The state government like every year is organizing Vibrant Navratri at GMDC ground in Ahmedabad, inauguration of which will take place today evening. There’s no particular trend in terms of dressing, steps or songs this year, but three of Garba songs penned down by Prime Minister Narendra Modi are given music and released with video ahead of the Navratri festival.

Gujarat government has allowed the use of loud speaker and public address system until 12 in midnight during Navratri period. However in rural areas, Garba will continue through whole nights.

The Gujarat government had once upon a time declared Navratri vacation in schools by cutting the total days of Diwali vacation, however that decision was revoked in successive years.

Ambaji Mandir in North Gujarat has decided to allow only ladies for Garba in Chachar chowk. The garba of ladies and gents will take place separately here.

Lakhs of devotees have already arrived at DeshDevi Ashapura Mata mandir in Kutch before Navratri. More are on way. Some are cycling from Mumbai to arrive at Ashapura Mandir like every year.

Lakhs of pilgrims will visit Mahakali temple in Pavagadh already ahead of Navratri. Other Mandirs too are prepared to receive extra-number of pilgrims during Navratri.

Gujarat has number of famous mandirs of Shakti such as Chotila (Goddess Chamunda), Pavagadh (Goddess Mahakali), Ambaji (Goddess Amba), Bechraji (Goddess Bahuchar), Ashapura (Deshdevi Ashapura), Bhadrakali (Devi Bhadrakali in Ahmedabad).

Vadodara which is considered the cultural capital of Gujarat is going to witness 400 Garba events.

In Saurashtra, some of famous Garbi events are Mahakali Navratri Natak Mandal in Lathi, Jesingpara Garbi Mandal in Amreli, Shakti chowk Garbi in Morbi, Limda line Garbi in Jamnagar and Chamundra Garbi Mandal Trust Garbi in Junagadh.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi remains on fast during nine-day of Navratri like many other devotees across Gujarat.

In his year 2012 blog post PM had written:”Many of you will be fasting through these 9 days. I recall that during Teacher’s Day celebrations two years ago, a little girl had asked me about my fasting during Navratri. Yes, I have been fasting during Navratri for over 35 years now. This fast is never to seek anything but an act of self-purification. Fasts such as this have been a source of strength, power and inspiration for me over the last many years.”

He had said: “Navratri is central to the cultural identity of Gujaratis. Garba and Raas form a centuries old tradition going back to the time of Lord Krishna — it is the cultural heritage of every Gujarati. In the coming days if you go to any part of Gujarat you will see people, be it young or old, dancing to the tunes of wonderful Gujarati folk music as part of the Navratri celebrations.”

“During Navratri we bow our heads and seek the blessings of Jagat Janani Maa. While civilizations around the world have conceptualized the Almighty in the male form, ours is the only civilization that celebrates and venerates Shakti in the female form — be it Jagat Janani Maa Jagadamba, Maa Lakshmi, Maa Saraswati among the many other Goddesses.”

“The popularity of our Garbas has transcended Gujarat’s shores — there are at least 500 cities around the world where this festival is celebrated with great pomp and show!”

Union Minister Amit Shah will perform Navratri evening aarti at his native Mansa like every year with his family members. Shah will also attend the first night of Navratri at Kesariya Navratri event in Gandhinagar which is being organized by a local legislator of ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). DeshGujarat

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