Ahmedabad:
Colourful, swirling ghagras, oceans of people dancing the night away - recession has failed to dull the garba cheer in Gujarat.
There are fewer corporate sponsorships, the arrangements are more economical, but participation, as always, is high-voltage.
''When you compare it with last year, definitely there are changes in patterns of spending. But we are not going to prevent ourselves from celebrating," says Vanit Khuslani an HR Executive in Ahmedabad.
The changes he mentions can be seen in the arrangements at the Navratri garbas being less ostentatious. But as Kaushal Mehta, Chairman, Motif Inc says, "While the recession has forced us to cut costs on travel and entertainment within the company, we are not keen to compromise with participation in such festivals. Navratri comes once in a year and it brings so many people together, we can't cut down expenses.''
The Gujarati business community, which has been hit badly by the economic downturn, too has decided to keep balance sheet worries aside.
Even pay cuts have not marred the enthusiasm.
''There is this consequence of recession and also Swine Flu this time but Gujaratis have not bowed down to such threats...this is our main festival and we will keep dancing all along,'' says Neha Desai a corporate executive.
The Navratri nights are most important in Gujarat's social calendar. So economic downturn or nor, the larger sentiment: The garba must go on.