'Garba' rehearsals in Gujarat to mark 'Navaratri'

Rajkot, Sept 19 (ANI): With the outset of 'Navaratri' starting from Saturday, women of all age groups are practicing the traditional Indian folk dance, 'Garba', with a view to perform during the most celebrated dance festival in Rajkot and Ahmedabad.

The nine-day festival observes musical groups getting ready for cultural programmes like the Garba dance across the country. Dancers wear colourful traditional attires and are decked up with heavy jewellery.

Kajal Anandkat, a Garba dance trainer, said that the women who come to get trained in Garba are above fifty years of age and are as energetic as the young girls who also learn Garba from her.

"Girls of all age groups come here to learn Garba. But this year, I have noticed that many women above fifty years old are coming forward to learn this form of dance. They dance with the same enthusiasm as young girls," said Anandkat.

Looking at these women practicing Garba, it is hard to say that these women who are above fifty are still so energetic while dancing as for Vasanthben Patel age is no bar for learning dance.

"I have been learning Garba for the last twenty days. I am fifty-year-old. I learn dance with girls of age 20 to 25 years. I have the stamina just as the young girls over here. I can dance just like them," said Patel.

As Rajkot is getting ready to give a spectacular performance in the dance festival, Ahmedabad is also gearing up for the celebrations.

The dancing grounds have been decorated with lights. The stage is all set and the dancers are practicing hard to deliver a good performance during the festival.

"The preparations are on the go. A Goddess idol will be installed to mark the beginning of the function," said Sameer Tanna, a choreographer.

The Navaratri festival is celebrated in honour of Goddess Durga, a manifestation of mother Goddess in Hindu mythology.

It is believed that during the days of Navaratri, Goddess Durga descends on earth to rid it of the demons and bless her devotees. (ANI)