Ahmedabad: For the past nine years, an Ahmedabad foundation has organised garba for dancers with disabilities. Jyot Foundation aims to create a welcoming space where dancers can enjoy Navratri unbothered by ableist prejudices.Jyoti Shah, 64, was born with cerebral palsy and has 90% disability. “But society gave me opportunities. I retired as an officer from Bank of Baroda,” she said. “I started Jyot Foundation in 2017 to use my experience and contacts to give something back to society.”This year, the foundation’s Divyang Garba will be held on Oct 11 at Narayan Rao Bhandari Open Party Plot in Memnagar.“Persons with disabilities want to dance and worship the Goddess. At most garba events, many such people can only watch others dancing,” Shah said. “They may feel embarrassed or fear being mocked because of the way they move.”She said at events organised by the foundation, people understand one another.Preparations for Divyang Garba begin four months in advance. The foundation has around 1,700 registered members, including people with locomotor, visual, hearing, speech, and intellectual disabilities.Participants range from children to people aged around 80.“We arrange an accessible venue, call in around 100 volunteers, make 10 wheelchairs available, ensure valet assistance, and arrange drinking water and meals,” Shah said.Prizes are presented across five disability categories, besides group, costume, couple, and children’s categories.“Some people with disabilities rarely leave their homes,” Shah said. “At the garba, such people meet friends, exchange information, and discover opportunities. I, too, learnt about employment through people I met.”
