The festival of Navratri, the longest dance festival of the world, begins today with utmost enthusiasm and religious fervour in Gujarat. The nine-day-long festival marks the worshiping of nine incarnations of Goddess Durga. With the beginning of Navratri today, all the cities across the state have geared up for the massive Ras Garba celebrations.

 

Across the state, Navratri is celebrated with utmost joy by lighting the traditional Garbo lamp, observing nine day fasts, performing rituals like ghat sthapan and by performing traditional garba dance. On the first day of the Shardiya Navratri, devotees are reaching in large numbers to the famous goddess temples in the state including the most revered Ambaji temple, Mahakali temple in Pavagadh, and Mata Na Madh in Kutch.To ensure safety during the festivities, the Gujarat Police has made elaborate security arrangements across more than 22,000 Garba venues. Special ‘She-Teams’ and large number of police personnel are deployed at party plots and street Garba grounds to ensure women’s safety.