MUMBAI: In a morale boost to Navratra revellers, the state government on Friday extended the deadline for the use of loudspeakers upto midnight to the three final days of Navratra.
Permission had already been granted for Sunday October 22 (Ashtami) and Monday October 23 (Navami). On Friday the state allowed the extended use of loudspeakers for Saturday October 21 too. The day marks the important confluence of Saptami and the weekend.
A wave of happiness was palpable in the wake of the order. Singer Parthiv Gohil said from his NESCO garba in Goregaon, “We are happy that the government has respected the feelings of artistes and dancers. This is a cosmopolitan festival which everyone celebrates.”
At Kora Kendra, Borivli, organiser Ganesh Naidu said he expected 20,000 people to arrive on Saturday owing to the extension. “On Friday we had a crowd of 15,000 despite the show ending at 10.00pm. But we had requested for an extension for four days. The government has given just three.”
At Sanskriti Durga Puja in Borivli, 75-year-old Muktamala Sarkar and her friends were discussing exactly this. “This is the first full-fledged Durga Puja after Covid, so they are saying they can enjoy to their heart’s content,” laughed her son Gautam.
Musician Vishal Butiya, who runs his own band named Kulswamini Beats in Andheri, was happy to play longer.
Permission had already been granted for Sunday October 22 (Ashtami) and Monday October 23 (Navami). On Friday the state allowed the extended use of loudspeakers for Saturday October 21 too. The day marks the important confluence of Saptami and the weekend.
A wave of happiness was palpable in the wake of the order. Singer Parthiv Gohil said from his NESCO garba in Goregaon, “We are happy that the government has respected the feelings of artistes and dancers. This is a cosmopolitan festival which everyone celebrates.”
At Kora Kendra, Borivli, organiser Ganesh Naidu said he expected 20,000 people to arrive on Saturday owing to the extension. “On Friday we had a crowd of 15,000 despite the show ending at 10.00pm. But we had requested for an extension for four days. The government has given just three.”
At Sanskriti Durga Puja in Borivli, 75-year-old Muktamala Sarkar and her friends were discussing exactly this. “This is the first full-fledged Durga Puja after Covid, so they are saying they can enjoy to their heart’s content,” laughed her son Gautam.
Musician Vishal Butiya, who runs his own band named Kulswamini Beats in Andheri, was happy to play longer.
