Young and old dance into the night to celebrate Navaratri

COIMBATORE: The wet weather did in no way hamper Navaratri celebrations for 120 odd Gujarati families residing in Coimbatore, at the Gujarati Samaj in the city on Monday. On the seventh day of the festival this year, it was all pomp and show as the festivities began for the 60th year of the puja in the city.
Dressed in traditional attire, the men in Kedo and the women in Chariya Choli, the participants were in festive spirits, dancing into the night.The young and old were equally jubilant. There actually seemed to be a competition of sorts as the older folk in tune with the latest dance techniques showcased their skills, and the youth countered with their best twists and twirls. There was live music where a group of musicians from Odhani belted out folk songs.
Sachin Kotecha, Convenor of Navaratri festival said that each year the celebration gets more elaborate. “We are conducting the mahotsav for the 60th year and since its inception the event has been celebrated in a traditional manner,” he said. Most people in the community show up for all the nine days, he said. The celebration starts with the pooja and culminates with the Garba and Dandiya. The evening begins at 9pm and goes on till 2am, he added. People outside the community are also invited to join in the celebrations. The Garba Dandiya Dhamaka to be held on October 25 is open to anyone interested in having an entertaining evening, Sachin said.
Nilesh Shah, Joint secretary, Gujarati Samaj, said that the first three days are devoted to goddess Kali, the next three to goddess Lakshmi and the last three days to Saraswati.
Saloni M Parikh, a student of Kikani school, said that the festivities allowed her to understand her culture better. “We have never visited Gujarat. But by participating in the celebrations I am able to connect with my roots,” she said.
Divyesh Thakkar, whose family has been in Coimbatore for six generations, said that while the celebration ensures that tradition is preserved, it is also a way of passing on tradition from one generation to the next. Over the years, he said that not much had changed in the way they celebrate the festival, as they are keen on preserving tradition and have no interest in commercializing the event.