Kumar Rajiv Nayan
Ara : The Gujrati folk dance Dandiya has become a popular part Navaratra celebration in Ara town, headquarters of Bhojpur district, with several clubs and organisations holding ‘garba’ nights. In fact, to give a Gujarati touch to the celebrations, the traditional ‘Chaniya-Choli (Gujrati ghagra dress for women) and ‘Kedia’ (dhoti and frock for men) are available for hire in the town for as little as Rs 100.
“I have been letting out bridal and causal ‘lehengas’ , ‘Shervanis’, ‘garba,’ dresses and matching jewellery since 2004 and have seen Ara residents’ attraction for it,” says Gyanesh Jain, who runs the outlet ‘Gifts and Gifts’ at Babu Bazaar. Most of the orders are placed by organizations who want to hire them for a group, he says adding, “ the ‘garba’ set with the dress, accessories and dandiyas are in demand.” While the ‘chaniya-choli’ and ‘kedia’ are available between Rs 150 to Rs 800,’lehengas’ and ‘sherwanis’ are available from Rs 400 to Rs 2,000.
The new arrival on the shelf is LED lights studded ‘chaniya-choli’ for Rs 500 to Rs 700 which is battery supported lights at the waist and glows during the evening events. “I get the clothes dry-washed once I get it back from the customers. If there is any damage, we withhold the security money,” he said.
Ashlilta Mukta Bhojpuri Association (AMBA) organized ‘Dandiya Nite’ on the campus of a local hotel on October 14, 2018, and at least 325 boys, girls, women and men participated in it.
Founder member of the AMBA, O P Pandey said that the dandiya programme started with the ‘aarati’ of Maa Durga. People from different localities of Ara and also from outside Bhojpur district participated in the programme. He said that participants were so enthusiastic that they themselves spent hundreds of rupees on their gate-up and preparation for the programme. Pandey said that a short film “Human Bomb” was also released on the occasion in the presence of the actors Rahul Badlani, Satyakam Anand and Aditi Singh. Pandey, Associate Director of the short film, said that the 20 minute film is based on terrorism.