Traditional Navaratri costumes.
www.flickr.com user Restless Mind.
Dust off the dandiya sticks and ghagra choli costumes, Navaratri is almost here and it's time to dance! Mumbai has a large Gujarati population so the festival is widely celebrated with huge dance spectaculars, including live bands and singers. The shows are on nightly, usually 7 p.m. onwards, during Navaratri from October 16-24, 2012.
The largest and most well known of these events is usually organized by Sankalp Dandiya at Goregaon Sports Club, Link Road in Malad. It will also take place there this year, albeit with a different organizer, Mangal Entertainment. The same as every year, the star attraction will be renowned singer Falguni Pathak (affectionately known as the "Dandiya Queen"). Tickets can be purchased online and cost 3,999 rupees for a VIP season pass, 650 rupees on a weekday, and 750 rupees on the weekend.
Other venues where the celebrations will happen on a grand scale include:
- Naidu Club at the Korakendra Ground, Borivali West. Discounted season passes costing 2,424 rupees (worth 3,300 rupees) are available online from Snapdeal. In addition to regular Navaratri songs performed by TV show singers, Gujarati comedian Nilesh Thakkar will provide some humour.
- Meera's Navratri at Chandan Kunj (Malpani Ground), Satya Nagar, Behind Sai Baba Nagar, Off Link Road, Borivali. Veteran Navaratri singer Musa Paik and his Crazy Beats group will entertain the crowd. (Watch the promo).
- V-Generation Navratri "O" Mega Dandiya at the Police Football Grounds, Ghatkopar East. There will be a fusion of disco beats and traditional desi beats with Satellite performing. South Indian playback singer Shriram Iyer will lead the celebrations.
- Ekta Navaratri at Somaiya Ground, Ghatkopar East. Gujarat's number one folk singer, Kirtidan Gadhvi, will be the star performer. Another highlight at this event is the lavish set design. (Watch the promo).
More About Navaratri:
Navaratri means nine days of non-stop fun, dance and festivities. I love this festival. Kolkata is best place in India to celebrate Navratri.