‘Navratri’, the word itself stands for nine nights; nine nights and ten days of worshipping the nine forms of Devi (female aspect of divine). Staying in Gujarat the most important aspect of these nine days has always been, nine nights of dancing to the tunes of various songs varying from the traditional garba songs to the latest Bollywood number. The garba grounds where hundreds gathered and swayed effortlessly to the tunes being hummed. In midst of all the music caste and creed was forgotten, enmity and anonymity hardly mattered…. The crowd mantra tended to be dance all night…
This year the winds carry the songs like “odhni odhu” and many more to my new abode…and with the music a huge wave of nostalgia rushes in… I remember my first teen tali on the DN grounds, the nervous journey of a novice and the transformation into a garba enthusiast.. The group consisting of my special ladies practicing the steps beforehand, hours of getting ready, decking up in the traditional attire, the last moment rush for pieces of jewellery and matching dupatta….
I remember the first garba steps of a dear friend. The unending hours spent with an extraordinary friend talking about each and every thought that came into mind. The shy smiles, the secret promises, the anger, the small fights and reconciliations. Walking through the dark roads unarmed in the early hours of the day…Sleepwalking through lectures, and sleeping a whole day after the last day of navratri….
When I look at it like this, I guess I did enjoy a lot. The at most freedom and maximum amount of fun. Talking to my friends made me realise that each one of us missed the joy of the yearly reunion that this festival used to provide. The chance to meet at least once a year, laugh, dance and enjoy.. that is what has been lost now…Life has made us older, wiser to an extent, but yet this heart craves fervently for the chance to go back, just for a day to those fun filled past…
This is Satrangee parachute missing my dear friends this navratri and always…..