Navratri is finally here and so are nine nights of glorious dancing. Dandiya is a Gujarati folk dance that is popular in the Western States of India, particularly Maharashtra. But nobody does Navratri like the Mumbaikars do, with their colourful attire and huge crowd gathering at multiple venues across the city. If you want to be a part of the festivities too, here’s where you can experience the best that Navratri has to offer –
Navratri with Falguni Pathak
You’ve never truly celebrated Navratri if you haven’t seen Falguni Pathak live. The ‘Dandiya Queen’ is set to perform at Borivali for the third time in a row, this year. She is known particularly for her catchy Gujarati songs, and attracts quite an enormous crowd each year.
Shri Pramod Mahajan Complex, Borivali
Price: Rs. 700 onwards
Radiance Dandiya
If you’re someone who loves playing dandiya but don’t want to do so in the sweltering heat, Sahara Star Hotel has got you covered. This year, enthusiasts can witness a performance by one of the most renowned orchestras of the dandiya industry – Manish Parekh’s Drumbeats. Apart from the much need air conditioning, the celebrations here go on till wee hours.
Hotel Sahara Star, Vile Parle
Price: Rs. 800 onwards
Korakendra Navratri
The festivities at Korakendra have been 18 years-long, and it’s a treat you wouldn’t want to miss. Thousands of garba and dandiya enthusiasts flock Korakendra every year, who play with utmost enthusiasm. Word on the street is that you might have a chance to spot some of your favourite celebs here.
Korakendra Ground, Borivali
Price: Rs 450 onwards
Shree Fort Leuva Patidar Mitra Mandal Navratri
This one’s the only non-commercial Navratri celebration so far. This event is organised by 1,000 shopowners and members of the Fort Merchants’ Welfare Association. It truly is a joy to see shop owners taking a break from their usual routines and let loose for a while. Another fact about this celebration is that the dandiya outfits are brought in specially from Kutch.
Kutch Visa Oswal Samaj Waadi, Masjidbandar
Price: Free
Jai Ho and Meera’s Navratri Utsav
The Preeti-Pinky duo have been a part of Navratri celebrations for close to 18 years now, and they’ve made a pretty big name for themselves. They’ve graced audiences across the globe and are quite the crowd-puller. They have also sung a Bollywood song which is, reportedly, what put them on the spotlight. Revellers can enjoy a spectacular Bollywood-themed live performance here.
Kutchi Grounds, Borivali
Price: Rs. 330 onwards
Shri Azad Nagar Navratri Mahotsav Mandal
What stands out from this Navratri celebration is that there are no singers performing live, enthusiasts just enjoy the beats played by a band. The band is a special team of Kutchi players who’ve been playing for generations. Several competitions are also conducted here
Azad Nagar Navratri Chowk, RAK Road, Wadala (West)
Price: Free
Now that you’ve probably taken your pick (or decided to tour them all), here are a few basic garba dance steps that you can perform –
