Navratri is the most famous festival of Gujarat around the world. Navratri is group of 'nine nights', where Gujarti people enjoy festival with joy and relious, for nine nights. This is an ancient and colourful festival. Navratri honours the one Divine Shakti or Force which supports the entire universe, and is personified as the Mother Goddess. She protects her worshippers, destroys evil and grants boons to her children. This Navratri festival is essentially religious in nature.Navratri is celebrated with true devotion in the various temples dedicated to Mataji. This is also true of the temples which usually have a constant stream of visitors from morning to night.
Nowadays, Ras-Garba is held in the Party Plots, Clubs, Farm and taking entrance fees for the Ras-Garba. Some of the Singer and the drummer are so popular because of the Ras-Garba. The Dances normally starts at night and continues to early morning.Navratri Festival 2009 - World Longest Cultural Festival in India
No need to buy expensive entry passes. Just wear traditional dress and be ready to enter the Garba ground. From 20th Sept-onwards, renowned artists like Shree Abhesinh Rathod, Shree Shyamal-Somil Munshi, Arati Munshi, Nayan Pancholi, Aisharya Majmudar, Parthiv Gohil, Prafull Dave, Vatsala Patil, Sanjay Oza, Divyang Anjariya, Jaydip Mehta, Himali Vyas, Soli Kapadiya, and Nisha Kapadiya are among the others who would mesmerize the audiences at Vibrant Navratri Mahotsav-2009 on University ground. The Sheri Garbas are open for all. Traditional dressing is compulsory for taking part in Sheri Garaba. Necessary light, sound, parking, and drinking water arrangements are made. The event has been jointly organized by Gujarat Government and Gujarat Industries Navratri Festival Society.The Vibrant Navratri Mahotsav-2009 at University Ground will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Narendra Modi on 19th September, Ambassadors of various countries and renowned artists from Gujarat and many other states would grace the occasion.
The Gujarat government organizes Vibrant Navratri Festival since last seven years. This year, Vibrant Navratri Mahotsav depicts the divine grandeur of “Shaktini Sapta Dhara”.
Ministry of cultural activities and sports has organised state level Garaba competitions, every day at 7:30 p.m on the ground.The best team of the district would take part in to the contest. First, second and third winners would get cash prizes of Rs.51000/, Rs41000/ and Rs. 31000/ respectively. These groups would get a privilege to present their performance in the inauguration session of next Vibrant Navratri festival.
Vibrant Navratri Festival would showcase the tourism potential and important pilgrimage centers of the state. Under the special scheme, Saputara hill station is going to be developed in the coming days. Theme pavilion will display some of the significant features of the scheme. State has initiated development programme for Shakti-Peethas- Ambaji, Chotila, Bahucharajee and Pavagadh - , fully alive to the devotional faith to the religious sites, State has taken various steps to develop the Shakti Peethas. Theme pavilions would display the development activities undertaken by the government and its religious importance. “Vibrant Gujarat Colours of India” and” Vibrant Gujarat- Where life itself is the Celebration” are considered to be the special attractions of the event. Theme pavilion would also showcase the World Heritage site Gujarat has achieved excellence in many sectors. Global Warming is posing a threat for entire world; Gujarat has undertaken various activities to address the issue of Global Warming. Gujarat is front runner in conceptualizing Green Energy by maximum exploration of non conventional energy resources. Theme pavilion would present a blue print for Solar and Wind Energy production.
Entrepreneurship and trade is flowing in the genes of Gujarati community. Our life styles and living standards get compared with Singapore. The exhibition-Growth of Gujarat Industries- showcases the futuristic vision on Industrial development. The Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridors has its 40 path share which passes through Gujarat, opening up bright avenues of development in various sectors.
This year, ‘Kids City’ is presented in a new form. It has a theme of environment safety. Many kid’s interested activities are displayed. Special care is taken to serve interests of youth, with the active cooperation of Sports Authority of Gujarat, cycle track, artificial mountain climbing and many others features are inculcated.It is likely to provide a great opportunity to display handicrafts, jeweleries, hand looms and traditional toys. Exhibition cum sale covers around 120 stalls. As many as 64 Food Stalls and Food-Courts would serve delicious Gujarati dishes.
Elaborate security arrangements are made for the Vibrant Navratri Festival-2009. Security agencies are keeping strict vigil; they are going to screen each and every visitor at the entry point. Prohibited things and arms are not allowed at the event site. Like the previous festivals, around 35 to 40 thousand citizens would attend the cultural extravaganza. No entry passes or any special passes are required.During the inauguration session, besides local artists, artists from the other states like Manipur, Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Assam, Hariyana, and West-Bengal would also present their performances.
In an innovative initiative is taken to encourage the youth by Tourism Corporation, Youth Association may send their own creations in C.D format to the corporation. Expert panel would screen best entries and declare results. The first, second and third winners would get cash prizes of Rs. 1 Lakh, Rs.75000/ and Rs 50000/ respectively. Their services may be utilized in the next Navratri Festival.