The Gujarat government has allowed gatherings of 400 people for garba events, along with DJs and sound systems, but clubs do not intend to host events on their premises because third wave of Covid pandemic.
Officials from Karnavati, Rajpath and Sports Club said that they won’t allow any kind of garba events during Navratri. “We were not planning to organise garba this year, irrespective of the permission granted by the government. We are concerned for the health of members and their guests,” said Vikram Shah, senior vice president of Rajpath Club.
Permission for gatherings of 400 people has also put club managements in a dilemma about whom to allow and whom not, given the limited number allowed. Secretary of Karnavati club, Ketan Patel, said, “We have about 14,000 members.
On a festival such as Navratri, it becomes difficult to prioritise whom to give the passes. Covid threat also remains, and it is better to be safe than sorry this year.”
N K Patel, president of the Sports Club, which has around 8,000 members, said, “We used to organise only two days of garba – stage garba and sheri garba. However, with the deaths and suffering we have seen in the second wave of Covid, it doesn’t make sense to put thousands of lives in danger.”
Even Gulmohar Greens club outside AMC limits will not organise garba this year. Loss for garba organisers
Hardik Thakkar, a garba organizer said, “We are getting inquiries for private garba events but they are also not clear as the numbers are restricted to 400.”
Talking about the losses, he added, “Apart from loss to organisers, other related sections like apparel, jewellery, decorators, sound etc who are completely dependent on Navratri as it is considered to be the best time to earn for the entire year.”