Surat – On the eve of Navratri, Gujarat’s Minister of State for Home, Harsh Sanghavi, made a significant announcement that has boosted the festive spirit across the state. He declared that this year, garba players will be allowed to participate in celebrations late into the night without any restrictions. He directed Gujarat Police to make arrangements in every city and district to ensure that lakhs of devotees can worship Goddess Amba with full enthusiasm.
Sanghavi emphasized that the festival should bring prosperity to small traders and street vendors, describing Navratri as an opportunity for them similar to Diwali. He said that those who work tirelessly to prepare goods or set up food stalls should be given full freedom to conduct business. This year’s festivities are also being linked to the themes of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Swadeshi’, highlighting the importance of self-reliance and indigenous products.
The minister also issued strict warnings to commercial garba organizers. He said they must ensure proper facilities for all participants and that songs disrupting the devotional atmosphere would not be permitted. Stressing that Navratri is an integral part of Indian culture, he added that maintaining its sanctity is everyone’s responsibility and that negligence or untoward incidents would not be tolerated.
Special attention has been given to the safety of women and girls. Sanghavi urged them to immediately call the emergency helpline number 112 if they face any problem, assuring that Gujarat Police is always ready to assist. As per agency report, additional security measures have been implemented this year to prevent anti-social elements from exploiting the festivities.
The announcement has sparked widespread excitement in Surat and across Gujarat, with people looking forward to celebrating Navratri with renewed enthusiasm and devotion.
