The ever-renowned United Way Garba at Vadodara, considered to be one of the biggest Garba gatherings in the world, has already fallen into controversy on the first day of the Navratri this year. The festival known as the Norata was a nine-day event that opened with massive celebrations throughout Gujarat; however, the opening of the iconic event of United Way was followed by disputes that led to arguments as to how modern Garba events should be celebrated.
The United Way of Baroda garba has been one of the key events in the course of the Navratri, attracting thousands of participants, celebrities, NRIs and tourists representing different parts of the world. It is not only celebrated because of its sheer size but also because of the money it raises for social causes with the help of its registrations and sponsorships. Nevertheless, it has also become the subject of criticism, and the controversy of this year has led to a reappearance of debates regarding the way Garba is supposed to be celebrated.
The second day in Norata, some were against the manner in which the process was carried out. Other issues raised were the problem of commercialization of an otherwise devotional festival, to restrictions of admission, where some locals felt marginalized by commercial companies bringing in bookings and sponsored passes. Traditionalists state that Garba, firstly used as a village prayer dance to Goddess Durga, is losing its religious nature to the burden of glamour, celebrity presence, and corporate interests.
Organizers, though, justified the event, pointing out that the proceeds are donated to charitable and social developmental projects in Vadodara and other places. They emphasized that United Way Garba is not only a form of entertainment but also a medium of sponsoring education, health, and charity activities. The event is a source of pride to several participants, particularly the youth and other visitors, as the culture of Gujarat is displayed on the world platform.
The controversy has created a lot of debate in Vadodara because some people claim that Garba must be attained in its traditional spiritual way, but others also argue that the festival must be allowed to develop with the passing of time. Security setups, crowd control and even sponsorship practices are also bound to continue as debatable issues through the nine days of Navratri.
The argument notwithstanding, the grounds were still crowded with enthusiastic dancers, colourful costumes and devotional songs as the thousands rejoiced in the start of Norata. The incident highlights the delicate act of balancing between tradition and modernity that huge cultural festivals such as United Way Garba should walk the fine line. All this will happen as the festival progresses, and people will still watch how the organizers can cope with the issues without losing the spirit of the festival.
