No Garba, no Chaniya Choli: Amid COVID pandemic, Navratri a dull affair for business in Gujarat

Started amid COVID-19 on Saturday, Navratri will be a different festival this year with a pandemic hovering over the pandals and Garba grounds. However, it’s not only the fun part that a regular dandiya player will miss, but the businesses that majorly depend upon the nine-day celebration will suffer losses.

The Government of Gujarat organises Navratri on GMDC ground every year. Thousands of people come and play garba, dance and celebrate the incarnations of Durga. One thing that binds these thousands together is the Chaniya Choli they purchase from the Law garden in Ahemdabad. However, once a crowded see of colours, the Law garden now only features Chaniya Choli worth Rs 2500 prices at one-fifth the rate and yet no one to buy.

When we talked to the shopkeeper there, he told us that the customer turnout has not even reached 5% of this year as compared to the regular Navratri season. The locals have been completely depending on Sunday for some sales.

Like every year, this year too, traders bought goods worth lakhs of rupees for Navratri in January itself, but after March owing to the lockdown and COVID-19, all the businesses seem to be wasted.

There is a market near Law Garden in Ahmedabad which is famous for Navratri shopping all over the state. A businessman from the market told Opoyi that due to coronavirus, the government has banned playing Navratri (only Aarti can be done).

“When compared to the regular years, there is a different atmosphere this year. We are selling goods for less than the price we brought, yet no one is ready to buy. Last year, the clothes we were selling for 1500-2000 are put out for 500-1000 this year, yet no one is ready to take them.”