Navaratri, also called Sharada Navarati or Navrata, is a major Hindu festival that is celebrated by Hindus around the world. It is essentially a celebration of good over evil. This year the auspicious nine-day long festival Navratri has started.
Meanwhile, a group of fashion designing students in Surat performed ‘Garba’ sporting hand-painted costumes made of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits. These costumes were designed by the students themselves.
This year the traditional dance ‘Garba’ will not be performed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the fashion designing students of the Institute of Design and Technology (IDT), Surat have designed a customised ‘Covid Garba Dress’, which is made of polypropylene fabric approved by the South India Textile Research Association (SITRA).
According to IDT, “Under the guidance of their faculty – Ms. Aarushi Upreti, the 1st year students of IDT INDIA crafted a Covid Garba outfit using hand painting and mirror as embellishments and designed a two-layer fully protected couple dress on PPE Jumpsuits with masks and dandiya sticks.”
Disha Patel, the student who designed the outfit, said, “The layering has been done in such a way that people can maintain social distancing while performing Garba. These Garba outfits are very economical, provide full protection and are very comfortable to wear and dispose.”
An IDT faculty member, Aarushi Upreti told ANI, “Since this year government has banned Garba, hence to add joy amidst the festive season, these covid Garba outfits will be gifted to Covid Care Volunteers of Civil Hospital, Surat. This initiative was taken to show gratitude to the artisans who have worked diligently to earn their living during this pandemic.”
This year the Gujarat state government has imposed a ban on Garba but at the same time, allowed no-contact worship of the idol or image of Goddesses.
