With Navratri around the corner, Garba organisers across Gujarat are stepping up safety measures by taking higher event insurance covers this year. Major organisers in Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, and Rajkot have collectively secured insurance worth nearly ₹150 crore to safeguard participants, artists, and event staff.Vadodara leads with ₹30 crore coverIn Vadodara—considered the hub of Garba and recognised by UNESCO as part of Intangible Cultural Heritage—six leading organisers have taken policies worth ₹30.18 crore. These include life coverage for nearly three lakh participants.Ahmedabad tops with ₹40–60 crore coverageAhmedabad, hosting more than 50 large-scale Garba events with an estimated 50 lakh participants, has seen insurance policies worth ₹40–60 crore. Coverage includes crowd safety, artists, and allied agencies working at the venues.Surat and other cities follow suitSurat’s Garba events have been insured for around ₹30 crore, while smaller towns like Mehsana, Junagadh, and Bhuj have collectively secured policies worth another ₹20 crore.Driven by recent accidentsThe move comes in response to recent stampedes, fires, and accidents in Gujarat. Organisers tied up with reputed insurance companies well in advance to cover nearly one crore participants across the state.Growing professionalism in Garba industryOrganisers say the adoption of insurance—up by 40% compared to last year—has brought more professionalism into the Garba industry, from online bookings to improved facilities and disciplined event management. With rising safety concerns, bigger event firms are expected to invest in Garba festivals in the coming years.
