Vadodara: For generations, Navratri in Gujarat has meant more than just music, lights and endless rounds of garba. It has also meant drenched clothes, sticky evenings and beads of sweat and, sometimes, an untimely spell of rain threatening to put a dampener on the celebrations. This year, however, revellers are getting a cooler alternative.From Ahmedabad and Surat to Vadodara and Rajkot, organisers are embracing massive air-conditioned domes to give garba enthusiasts a more comfortable, weather-proof experience during the nine nights of festivity.Vadodara, traditionally known for its vibrant open-air garba celebrations, has joined the trend for the first time this year. The city’s first AC-dome Navratri has already generated considerable excitement among Barodians eager to dance without having to contend with the heat, humidity or sudden showers.“One of the main reasons is to give a comfortable playing experience to garba revellers and audiences. Barodians are extremely passionate about Navratri, and they hate it when unseasonal rain interrupts a garba night,” said Ravi Wadje, one of the organisers of Red Imprints that has installed a huge AC dome on its 40,000-square feet garba venue on Gotri-Sevasi Road.Apart from keeping temperatures comfortable, the enclosed setup is aimed at eliminating the hazards posed by wet and muddy grounds, where revellers could slip and injure themselves. The venue can accommodate more than 5,000 garba revellers and around 1,000 spectators. “If the initiative works, we may install a bigger AC dome next year,” Wadje told TOI.The cooling trend is also gaining momentum in Rajkot, where revellers are being offered an even larger setup. Rajkot-based MGM Cultural Navratri Group has installed a centralised AC German dome with a 1,800-ton cooling capacity. The dome can accommodate between 12,000 and 15,000 revellers. “The infrastructure cost has gone up three to four times, but we want to give players a new experience this year,” said organiser Hardik Kangad.With Gujarat’s love for garba showing no signs of cooling, organisers are now ensuring that the weather does.(With inputs from Nimesh Khakhariya)
