As the nation revels in the vibrant spirit of Navratri, Ahmedabad’s Divyang Navratri Mahotsav stands out as a shining beacon of inclusivity and inspiration. Here, specially abled individuals come together to celebrate the joy of Garba, a traditional dance form, and partake in the festivities with remarkable enthusiasm.
Vipulbhai, the brain behind Divyang Garba Mahotsav, had a transformative moment over a decade ago when he witnessed a differently-abled person at a Garba ground. Touched by this encounter, he made it his mission to create a platform where specially abled individuals could join in the celebrations. Six years have passed, and this tradition continues to flourish, with approximately 700 participants hailing from Gujarat and its surroundings coming together to play Garba.
The nine-day Navratri festival is a period of intense devotion where Maa Durga’s nine incarnations are worshipped for her blessings. Each day of Navratri is dedicated to a specific manifestation of the goddess. Devotees follow a set of rituals, including fasting, reciting shlokas dedicated to each deity, donning new attire, offering bhog (sacred offerings), and purifying their homes during this auspicious time.
Through their prayers and rituals, they seek the benevolence of the goddess for prosperity and happiness in their lives. Over the course of Navratri, devotees continue to seek the blessings of Goddess Durga and maintain their fasts. The festival symbolizes the victory of good over evil, epitomized by the vanquishing of the demon Mahishasura.
Sharad Navratri’s tenth day is celebrated as Dussehra or Vijaya Dashami. One of the most prominent traditions during Navratri in North India, particularly in states like Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh, is the grand and dramatic reenactment of Lord Ram’s triumph over the demon king Ravana, known as Ramlila.
