Riots mar spirit of garba among old city's youth

VADODARA: Kashmira Khaire, who had played garba all nine days for the last 20 years, is missing the revelry of the past two days.
While her friends were swaying to the rhythms of Navratri, Khaire remains stranded at her house following outbreak of riots in the Walled City on Thursday.
"Navratri is the time of reveling with friends and family. However, this time the situation is tense due to the riots and they have dampened the spirit of the festival," said Khaire, an MSc student who lives in Mandvi.
The riots have taken a toll on Navratri festivities, and many enthusiasts from eastern parts of the city who come to play garba at prominent venues in the western parts of the city are unable to do so due to sporadic rioting.
"My friends, who stay in the Walled City, have been preparing for garba days ahead of the festival. However, this time, their parents barred them from going to garba venues fearing that riots might break out," said Sheel Shah, a resident of Raopura.
Along with riots that injured many in the walled city area, rumours kept spreading panic among many garba-goers who live in the area surrounding Mandvi.
"We have always enjoyed playing to the tunes of garba without any worries. But this time there is constant uncertainty. We are commuting through a long route to reach garba venues due to the riots," said another garba enthusiast Nikita Mulwani, a resident of Lehripura area.
Mulwani also added that the commotion caused by the stabbing near her father's bakery in Mandvi on Friday has also adversely affected their family business.
Many also complain that suspension of mobile internet services has added to the problems faced by garba enthusiasts in the walled city area.
"Mobile internet which is crucial to socialize during Navratri has been blocked making it difficult for us to communicate with our friends," said Kirti Darji, a garba enthusiast from Navapura.
Not just those in Walled City areas but youths in other parts of the city have also been affected due to the riots.
"Following the incidents of riots, which are restricted to the walled city area, my Ahmedabad-based parents have strictly asked me to stay away from all garba venues this year," said Maitri Trivedi, an ardent garba enthusiast, who stays as a paying guest in Fatehgunj area.