Navratri a 10-night affair after 16 years

AHMEDABAD: Giving garba enthusiasts another reason to rejoice, Navratri will be a 10-day affair this year. It is after 16 long years that Navratri will last for 10 days, the last time being in 2000. The first day of Navratri i.e., the 'prathama tithi' of the Hindu calendar year, Vikram Samvat 2073, will span over two days on October 1 and 2. That apart, the festival of nine nights will include two weekends, further adding to the joy of Amdavadis.
Kunal Shukla, a city-based astrologer, said, "It is after a long time that the festival has extended by a day according to the Hindu calendar year.
Previously, it was in 1989 and 2000 that Navratri was spread across 10 days. Meanwhile, in 2012 and 2009, the number of days of Navratri were less than nine due to overlapping of dates."
Garba enthusiasts have already made elaborate plans for the festival. "I arrived in India after staying in the US for five years and Navratri is the festival I missed the most. I really look forward to enjoying garba after a long time and an extra day is just like a cherry on the cake," said Devanshi Dave, a physiotherapist.
"Thankfully there are two full weekends during this Navratri. While I won't be able to enjoy each night due to work-related commitments, I will make the most of the weekends and holidays," said Bhargav Korat, a city-based software professional.