Traditional garba lives up to fame and style

RAJKOT/JUNAGADH, Oct 1: Though the campaign against the disco dandiya did not take off here as it did in Junagadh, thanks to BJP MLA Mahe...

RAJKOT/JUNAGADH, Oct 1: Though the campaign against the disco dandiya did not take off here as it did in Junagadh, thanks to BJP MLA Mahendra Mashru, people by and large thronged venues of traditional garba, which lived up to its reputation. The nine night celebrations passed off peacefully.

Over a dozen organisers, including ruling BJP supporters, extended support to the `avarchin’ garba. But, despite best efforts to lure youths, the participation did not meet expectations. A stiff hike in the rate of passes, increasing complaints of boys and girls fixing it in advance and the lack of sponsors resulted into a relatively tame show.

Ripple Group tried its best to give an additional mileage by inviting TV and film star Goga Kapur and Anu Kapur. And the publicity blitzkrieg overshadowed the much resourceful Navrang, Race Course Club and Leo Pioneer which extended their shows by a day, apparently to compensate the day lost by heavy rainfall.

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And the `cream’ business that disco dandiya has become, also attracted unscrupulous elements to make a fast buck. With an amazing speed, police arrested some employees of a printing press for allegedly printing and selling fake entry passes. And with top police officials gracing the occasion, organisers felt pretty at home.

The traditional garba, on the other hand, put up good shows in Karanpara, Junction Plot, and Sadar which are known for special garbas. At over 350 venues, children, especially girls, played garba in a secured atmosphere. The traditional garba thus lived up to its fame and style.

Junagadh witnessed a row with Mashru’s agitation for restoration of traditional garba, separate for boys and girls, and doing away with the disco dandiya variety. And rain came as a spoilsport.

The campaign virtually divided the BJP. The disco garba became the rallying point for one section, drawing support from the youth, much to the annoyance of 20,000-odd Mashru supporters.

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Mashru, however, remained unruffled. With his army, he gheraoed the Gymkhana ground, where Shakti Group had planned a disco garba, near the Sardar Chowk, blocked traffic for hours. The supporters were almost on the verge of ransacking the venue, preparing for traditional mahagarba. But, Mashru reigned in his supporters and a major trouble was averted as police remained a mute spectator.

Mashru supporters claimed that their protest was against the fact that the disco garba organisers had been fleecing people in the name of tradition and raking in lakhs of rupees. They also alleged that people were forced to purchase passes for disco garba because some organisers were active BJP workers and close to BJP MP Bhavnaben Chikliya.

The anti-disco dandiya committee, set up by Mashru, got support of the Congress and the RJP besides All India Sadhu Samaj, which had been submitting memoranda to the authorities for the past four years, but in vain, according to Mahant Meghanndji.

The youngsters were also divided on the ground that Navaratri was a festival for the youth and should be left to them to enjoy it the way they wished.

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Finally, Shakti Group put off the show. “In the larger interests, we decided to close”, said organiser Jayesh Bhuva.

And Mashru-bailers claimed that it was a political stunt for mileage, and challenged the MLA to stop disco garba in Rajkot. He could not. However, disco or no disco, the traditional garba remained popular.