Dandiya keeps Capital awake

NEW DELHI: When colourful ghagras whirl to the rhythm of clicking dandiyas and clapping hands, it’s evident Navratri has arrived in the city.
‘‘Even though raas-garba is considered a Gujarati obsession, here in Delhi around four to five thousand people come out to dance through the night,’’ said Jagdip Rana, president of Delhi Gujarati Samaj.
Clearly, Navratri enthusiasm cuts across community lines.Even though it is the pre-eminent festival of dance, costumes, jewellery and other paraphernalia become central, adding to the energy of the festivities. And for enthusiasts who want variety on all nine days, Delhi does not disappoint in terms of events or costumes-from demure ones to the more daring-depending on one’s preference.
Gurjari, the Gujarat state emporium on Baba Kharak Singh Marg, offers not only the greatest variety as far as outfits are concerned, but arguably the best prices too with ongoing festival discounts. ‘‘We have a separate line for kids but often adults like those designs so much they demand the same in larger sizes,’’ said one of the sales attendants at Gurjari. Unfortunately, Gurjari does not have the corresponding traditional costumes called kediyu for men, and instead stock the regular kurta-pyjamas.
Fancy Navratri clothes are available at other places too. ‘‘Not many know that the vendors who sit on Janpath selling mirrored wall-hangings also sell ghagra-cholis. They also have some traditional pieces only if you care to ask them,’’ revealed Rana.
According to Abhishek from Lok Utsav, who organises the three-day raas-garba event at Talkatora Stadium, jewellery and costumes are also easily available at several shops in Lajpat Nagar and Dilli Haat.
But going to the right shop alone means little if you can’t get the right size.
‘‘In ghagra-choli sets, there are varieties like tie and dye or bandhni, heavy sequinned ones and others with embroidered ari work,’’ said an attendant at Gurjari. Also popular in the market are backless cholis, that again range from the modest to the more risque. For those who can’t take the weight of sequinned work, it is better to stick to the light and comfortable bandhni costumes. And no dandiya outfit can be complete without the drape of the odhni.
After dressing up, it’s time to head out. Interestingly, some of the raas-garba events organised by Gujarati organisations are very exclusive affairs that allow only members, their guests and native speakers of the language.
Said Rana: ‘‘If you can prove you can speak Gujarati, you can be allowed at the event organised by our samaj. We had to take this step after we had a bad experience with outsiders.’’
But according to Rana, he was disappointed when he could not take his own non-Gujarati friends to the event, and so he decided to organise another raas-garba at Raja Garden, which is open to the general public.
Other places that organise raas-garbas that are open to all include those at the Garden of Five Senses and Talkatora Stadium.