Surat grooves to 'Garba' as Navratri celebrations kick off with enthusiasm
Oct 16, 2023
Surat (Gujarat) [India], October 16 : As the celebrations for the first day of Navratri began, a large number of people in Gujarat's Surat performed 'Garba' on Sunday.
They were seen dancing with full enthusiasm to the traditional tunes of Garba, which honours Goddess Durga during the Navratri festival.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah attended 'Kesariya Garba' in Gujarat's Gandhinagar during his 3-day visit to the state. 
Surat District Cricket Association also organised a special 'Bicycle Garba' on Sunday as celebrations begin on the first day of Navratri. 
In Madhya Pradesh's Indore, people performed 'Garba' to mark the first day of Navratri. 
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also greeted people on the occasion of the beginning of Navratri and wished them happiness, fortune and good health.
"May Shakti Pradayini Maa Durga bring happiness, prosperity, good fortune and good health in everyone's life. Jai Mata Di!" PM Modi posted on X in Hindi (Formerly Twitter).
During the nine-day Navratri festival, devotees worship Maa Durga's nine incarnations in order to obtain her blessings.
There is a goddess manifestation linked with each day of Navratri.
People maintain ritualistic fasts, recite shlokas dedicated to each goddess, wear new clothing, offer bhog, and clean their homes during these nine days.
In their prayers, they ask the goddess for her favour in order to have prosperous, joyous, and fulfilled lives.
Over the next nine days, devotees offer their prayers to Goddess Durga and observe fasts.
The festival of Navratri honours the defeat of the demonic Mahishasura and the triumph of good over evil.
The 10th day of Sharad Navratri is celebrated as Dussehra or Vijaya Dashami.
Ramlila is organised extensively during Navratri in North India, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh. During the Ramlila, the tale of Lord Ram's triumph over Ravana is acted out.
