Sapta Dhara of Shakti Theme Vibrant Navaratri Festival

NAVARATRI 2009 SAPTA DHARA OF SHAKTI IS THIS YEAR
THEME FOR VIBRAN NAVARATRI FESITVALS

Sapta Dhara of Shakti is this year's theme for Vibrant Navratri fest
Gandhinagar: This year's mega Navratri event, the Vibrant Gujarat Navratri Festival 2009 organised by Gujarat government and the Gujarat Industries Navratri Festival Society (GINFS) will be based on the theme of "Sapta Dhara of Shakti''. The celebrations which will begin from September 19 at Gujarat University ground, Ahmedabad, will host 84 diplomats from 42 countries as guests to the festival.

This was confirmed by state urban development minister Nitin Patel and the secretary, state tourism department, DK Rao, while briefing media about foreign guests to this year's Navratri festival, on Thursday. "The state government and the GINFS will collectively spend around Rs9.5 crore for the event," Rao said.

Rao said that along with the Navratri festival the government has created models of Saputara hill station, Shaktipeeths, religious places, Chapaner World Heritage sites.

Besides, a special model on the current issue of global warming and its effect on Gujarat will also be put on display. To attract youths, there will be also be a theme pavilion on adventure tourism. Moreover, there will be also be 120 handicrafts stalls apart from 64 food stalls. High level security arrangements have been made to ensure safety during the festival, he said.

Rao further informed that altogether 700 artists will perform during the nine-day event and artists from Manipur, Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Haryana, Assam and West Bengal will also participate. On all nine days there will be Sheri Garba competition in which performers from all the districts of the state will participate. The first prize winners will be given Rs51,000, Rs41,000 for second prize and the third prize will be Rs31,000.

Except for the inaugural function, passes will not be required, the secretary said, adding that anybody can participate or visit the event free of cost. Around 35 to 40,000 people are likely to visit the festival venue excluding the invitees.

SAPTA DHARA OF SHAKTI NAVARATRI VIBRANT NAVARATRI FESTIVAL 2009