Navaratri at United Way : Take a dip in the hypnotic voice of Shree Atul Purohit
Hello all,
I don’t know if this is a part of the travel blog. But it is a part of our journey. An important part. Growing up in Surat with parents having zero interest in Garba, my sister and I had limited options. And my interest was not as much as it is now. My sister was mad over this, but somehow we didn’t connect with Surat Garba at any point. When we were in school, we stayed in the Rander area of Surat, and there in Shilpi society, they had one of the most iconic Garba of Surat. With traditional instruments, with dandiya, and with closeness to the roots. But apart from that, there is nothing much to remember.
Fast forward to my college years, I became friends with wonderful people. We started going for Garba till morning 5 with our close-knit group, and dare I say, one of the most important person among them was Sheel.. and he introduced me to this Garba of United Way. This stupefying crowd..this fantastic singer and his unique voice. Thousand and lakhs of people doing Graba with this much synchronisation is so difficult to believe.
You feel like you are on another planet…In some wonderland where you are in total control of the voice of Atul Dada. Yes, that’s what all Barodians call him with love. They say if barodians hear ‘Chalo Beta’ in their sleep, they start doing the Garba. That is the charisma of Atulji.
His majestic, marvelous melodious voice makes us move our feet and takes us into an eternal trans-like state of magic and transfixes the crowd in his magnetic pull.
We were doing this Garba before COVID also, but as kids were small, we could not enjoy it for all nine days. This year was exceptional…With fantastic company and ground so close to home, we enjoyed these nine nights like we didn’t have tomorrow. In those nine days, our life was like a blur…The days passed at lightning speed as we waited for night to come. It’s not like we went there before time and enjoyed it from start to end. But whenever we were on the ground, our feet had no bounds.
Stones or no stones…rain or no rain…with mud and blistered feet, we were on cloud nine…We enjoyed it like we were back in college…like all of us didn’t have two kids sleeping at home…But I tell you that is the power of the United Way… And it is because of the influence of Atul Purohit.
You are amongst the sea of people, bumping into each other, shouting Hove Hove so loudly that it bursts your eardrums. Still, simultaneously giving you motivation and enthusiasm for one more round…From the oldest Tara Vina Shyam to the newest Gokul no Govalio, the crowd erupts with energy like a giant volcano erupting lava…
And when they dim all the lights in Aadha hai Chandrama, you feel like it is another galaxy with thousands of mobile lights moving with such harmony that hypnotizes the crowd.
You all must think that I am exaggerating this entire thing, but thousands of people attending this fantastic event will agree with each word. We enjoyed our madness as madness is more interesting and exciting than routine…
So next Navratri, please be a part of this spellbinding event, even if for a day and even if just as a spectator.
That’s it.
Thank you all…
❤️
marvellous🎊 amazing pictures , convey the absolute enjoyment cherished by you n your friends.
Unique attractive nine outfits highlighted the 9 nights💃
Cherish the memories n will be waiting for next year pictures
Thank you so much…
Very nice
Thank you…
This is just so amazing..so beautiful and elaborate..proud happy and humbled to be part of this blog
Yes!! many more to come…