This Navratri, Borivli will become Garba hub

For garba-lovers from Mumbai and beyond, all roads will lead to Borivli this year, as it is going to transform into a cultural hub this Navratri -the reason being three of the biggest Navratri performers of the city are descending on Borivli.

Singer Falguni Pathak, known as ‘Dandiya Queen’, will be singing along with her sisters, Preeti-Pinky and Nilesh Thakkar, all popular Gujarati singers.

Pathak will perform at the Pramod Mahajan Sports Complex during the nine-day festival, which kicks off from Wednesday. Pathak said, “I always love to witness the essential Gujarati crowd and Borivli offers exactly what I always look for,” she said.

The Preeti-Pinky duo will perform at the Kutchi Grounds. “I am a Borivli resident and have been performing here for almost 10 years now,” says Preeti Dave. She added they were not looking at other singers as competitors. “Since it (Falguni’s event) will be new, people will go and check it out. But there is no competition between the singers,” she said.

Meanwhile, Ghatkopar, a dandiya hub of equal stature until a few years ago, will not stage any major garba event this year.

However, residents and local mandal members feel the ouster of commercial Navratri organisers from the area has enabled the locality to regain its traditional flavour and celebrations will be subdued. Bhanushali Wadi Mitra Mandal in Ghatkopar (East) has been organising Navratri celebrations for the Bhanushali community for last 75 years.

“Events need commercial venues. In fact, now around 5,000 people perform pooja in front of our kul devi (community goddess) here daily. The same people then go to 25 community celebrations held across the city. We will keep Navratri traditions alive, come what may,” said Ashok Bhanushali, general secretary, Kutch Bhanushali Seva Samaj Trust, the umbrella body of Bhanushali mandals.

Pathak will perform at the Late Pramod Mahajan Sports Complex during the nine-day festival, which kicks off from Wednesday