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Where's the dandiya tonight?
Nach Baliye contestants, Rasik and Ketki Dave celebrate Navratri in the traditional manner. Rasik fasts for all the nine days. Wife Ketki praises her husband's devotion to Mata, "during these days, he eats only a particular kind of rice and salt. He abstains from non veg, even ginger and onion are a strict no no. As for me, I cannot fast, I am just not made that way," she says. But Rasik points out although she does not fast, she assiduously prepares for the pooja which is very good for she is originally a Maharashtrian, where navratri is not celebrated with much fanfare. For Manasi Parekh it is a time to celebrate the power of Ma Durga. Rasik adds that each of nine days signifies some event related to Mata, the most potent symbol being the 10 th day i.e. the slaying of the demon Ravana, which is celebrated as Dassera. All stars we spoke to said that the best part of navratri was indeed the nine day function of garba and dandiya. Rasik said traditionally the idol of Durga is brought home for the nine day period where all the time the diya (ghee or mitti ke tel, depending on your financial status) has to be kept burning before the deity. In the evenings, after breaking the fast, people dance around the idol, that is the idea of garba or dandiya. While the former refers to clapping and dancing, the latter is dancing with beautiful sticks. Monaz and Mansi say its real fun to see youngsters come out in large numbers to dance away till the wee hours of the morning (unfortunately not in Mumbai). Mansi who will be mostly shooting said all her friends are buying the latest designer chaniya cholis and the best part is that they will never repeat an outfit even if they are not visiting the same pandals. Monaz said that for youngsters, garba has become a real fashion statement, where you really experiment with your cholis, the wilder the better.
Nach Baliye contestants, Rasik and Ketki Dave celebrate Navratri in the traditional manner. Rasik fasts for all the nine days. Wife Ketki praises her husband's devotion to Mata, "during these days, he eats only a particular kind of rice and salt. He abstains from non veg, even ginger and onion are a strict no no. As for me, I cannot fast, I am just not made that way," she says. But Rasik points out although she does not fast, she assiduously prepares for the pooja which is very good for she is originally a Maharashtrian, where navratri is not celebrated with much fanfare. For Manasi Parekh it is a time to celebrate the power of Ma Durga. Rasik adds that each of nine days signifies some event related to Mata, the most potent symbol being the 10 th day i.e. the slaying of the demon Ravana, which is celebrated as Dassera. All stars we spoke to said that the best part of navratri was indeed the nine day function of garba and dandiya. Rasik said traditionally the idol of Durga is brought home for the nine day period where all the time the diya (ghee or mitti ke tel, depending on your financial status) has to be kept burning before the deity. In the evenings, after breaking the fast, people dance around the idol, that is the idea of garba or dandiya. While the former refers to clapping and dancing, the latter is dancing with beautiful sticks. Monaz and Mansi say its real fun to see youngsters come out in large numbers to dance away till the wee hours of the morning (unfortunately not in Mumbai). Mansi who will be mostly shooting said all her friends are buying the latest designer chaniya cholis and the best part is that they will never repeat an outfit even if they are not visiting the same pandals. Monaz said that for youngsters, garba has become a real fashion statement, where you really experiment with your cholis, the wilder the better.
Pooja Rawal Ghai recalls how during her college days she would visit the dandiya venues and have fun with the guys. "Nowadays we hardly get the time," she sighs. Ami Trivedi pointed out that these days special garba classes are held to train people to dance the right way.
While enjoying the song and dance, the stars did feel that commercialization is killing the true feeling of the festival. Rasik remembered his childhood days when they would celebrate navratri with family and that time there would only be devotional songs, only in the last twenty years, disco dandiya taken over.
Ami too felt that high prices of tickets deters many middle class families from enjoying navratri, but Pooja said that luckily, many societies have their own garbas, so its not that bad. Ami also wished that the police authorities relaxed the timing, so people can enjoy themselves. "The 11 pm deadline is too early given that most Mumbaikars get home only by 8," she groused adding that it's tougher for stars, as they get free only by 10. The stars accepted the fact that these nine days also allow them the luxury of enjoying as well earning money by making appearances at dandiyas, not only in India, but even overseas. Pooja, Monaz and Ami affirmed that have received many invitees and will soon decide where to go. Earlier filmstars would grace such events, but of late thanks to profusion of Saas bahu shows, TV stars are much in demand. One actor who did not want to be named said that it was sad that mostly only those actors who do positive roles get invited.Asked as to how much time do they spend at such garbas, Pooja said an hour to hour-and-a-half and if the security is good then they even dance with the crowd.
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