Gujarat celebrates 2006 as Tourism Year

Kolkata, July 31 (UNI) Celebrating 2006 as 'Tourism Year', the Gujarat government today announced to celebrate 'Navaratri' in a mega scale from September 23 to October one to woo more tourists.

Addressing newsmen, Managing Director of Tourism Corporation of Gujarat P D Vaghela said 'Vibrant Gujarat', where life is a celebration, has always attracted people from across the globe.

''In order to promote and increase tourism our government has decided to hold the queen of all festivals Navaratri for such a long period where cultural troupes from several countries like Israel, Astrakhan, SAARC nations, USA and a few European countries will perform,'' he said at a promotional road show here.

The dance festival has always been identified with this land of the Father of Nation apart from Lord Krishna's kingdom Dwarka, 'khaman dhokla' or 'thepla'(delicacies) and IIM Ahmedabad, he said.

Navaratri is a festival that commemorates the worship of the Goddess Durga,depicting her nine manifestations.

The government has also decided to offer special tour packages to the famous 'Tarnetar Fair', a festival that allows men and women to find a suitable match for themselves. People in traditional attire throng this place where the third Pandava Arjun pierced the eye of a rotating fish by looking at its reflection and wooed Draupadi to marry him.

''We are also giving thrust on Medico Tourism, where people not only from India but from across the seven seas come to get world class treatment at reasonable price,'' said joint managing director of the department Nalin Thaker.

He said the medical facilities include ancient ayurvedic therapies, reiki, aromatherapy, along with latest scientific technologies.

Mr Vaghela said the state had recouped the worst natural disasters and emerged as the only one to provide 24 hours of electricity to all the 1800 villages.

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