Surat : After two years of muted celebrations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the city of Surat is gearing up for a grand Navratri celebration this year. Surtis are expected to spend over Rs 1500 crore on the nine-day festival, with a significant portion of that amount going towards garba events, clothes, decorations, food, and sound systems.
Garba Events
This year, Surat will host five big dome garba events and eight commercial garba events. Professional garba organizers have spent between Rs 5 crore and Rs 12 crore each to organize these events. Special preparations have also been made for garba programs held in societies.
Clothes
Surtis are known for their love of fashion, and they go all out when it comes to Navratri clothes. Some players get special clothes made from a designer, and various themes are kept by khelaiya groups for nine days. Players associated with garba groups spend anywhere between Rs 5,000 and Rs 3 lakh on clothes alone. The players of the city's big khailaiya group spend Rs 4 to 10 crore on clothes.
Decorations
Dazzling decorations have been done by decorating with different types of lights, lamps, and colorful strings. Special decorations are also done in the societies and complexes of the city on the occasion of Navratri festival. In big schemes, Rs 10 to 25 lakh is spent on decoration, while in societies the cost of lights and decoration ranges from Rs 25 thousand to Rs 5 lakh.
Food
Arrangements for breakfast or dinner are made during the nine days of Navratri in the societies and complexes of Surat city. Some societies arrange lunch and evening meals for 10 days, while others serve refreshments after garba. The society spends anywhere between Rs 5,000 to Rs 15 lakh just on breakfast and dinner.
Sound System
The sound system plays the most important role in Navratri. The better the sound system, the more players will enjoy playing. Navratri organizers do not compromise with the sound system. Some societies hire DJs, while others adopt sound systems when introducing sound systems. In commercial garba scheme, the price of a sound system ranges from Rs 15 lakh to Rs 30 lakh, while in societies its price ranges from Rs 30 thousand to Rs 4 to 5 lakh.
Navratri is a time for celebration and fun, and Surtis are known for their lavish spending during this festival. This year, the city is expected to spend over Rs 1500 crore on Navratri, with a significant portion of that amount going towards garba events, clothes, decorations, food, and sound systems.
