Navratri festival in 2010 is creating great mania in Gujarat state universities and colleges, where Garba raas and Dandiya raas are rocking the students in the state. Educational institutes in Gujarat are giving wider space to hot spots of sheri garba. In cities like Baroda, Ahmedabad and Surat, the festival is going to be celebrated in a tremendous mood in 2010.
Vasundara Vyas Mehta for Times of India writes:
Navratri 2010 to rock the state’s academic institutes yet again. Among the popular hot spots of sheri garbas are CEPT University, National Institute of Design (NID) and Mudra Institute of Communication, Ahmedabad (MICA). Some of these have become so popular that they have dedicated committees of students taking care of the event and sponsors flushing in money. The themes students come up with only add to the popularity of these venues every year.
- CEPT University: One thing that students of Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology University would remember it for is the nine-day garba festival that it hosts for students, faculties and their families. Started in the 1980s, this event has added to its fans and popularity with each passing year.
- NID : National institute of Design, Ahmedabad, has been organizing the festival for all nine nights. The major attraction at NID is the special dance steps that students innovate and the ‘diya dance’ that students perform with oil lamps in their hands and all other lights out.
- IIM-Ahmedabad: The newest kid on the block when it comes to campus Navratri festivities is Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A). Till last year, the students were invitees at other institute garbas, but this time they decided to do it on their own.
- Faculty of Fine Arts, MS University, Vadodara: Garba celebration at this institute began way back in 1952. It may not have the hype surrounding most garba venues, but still remains one of the most frequented places during Navratri. With no sound systems or ornate stage or even a professional singing troupe, the Fine Arts garba continues to remain on the top of the popularity charts. This year too preparations are on and students have started practicing steps.