Swine Flu and Navratri
Posted on Aug 27, 2009 by Reena Daruwalla | Comments 0
Seeing the effect that the H1N1 swine flu pandemic has undoubtedly had on the currently ongoing Ganeshotsav celebrations in the country, it seems quite likely that the Navratri celebrations will suffer much the same fate.
Both are festivals that call for large scale community participation by virtue of public gatherings each day for long periods of time.
According to the Times of India report, the organization of garbas and dandiyas is less this year and many of the bigger events will be on a lower scale this year.
Some event organisers have been affected by the swine flu scare and owing to the fear that sponsors will back out, and have either cancelled plans or scaled them down considerably.
This is true for cities such as Ahmedabad as well as Surat. It is found that the bigger party plots in prime locations in Ahmedabad, which would have been booked months in advance ordinarily, this year have few takers.
As of now, there are no plans to ban the Navratri celebrations it has been clarified as reported in this Times article. Although the authorities have the option of invoking the Epidemic Diseases Control Act, 1897, which would effectively put paid to the Navratri garba gatherings, this is not invoked yet since such a measure would lead to panic according to the states health and family minister.
The minister seemed hopeful that those who were ill would themselves keep away because they would not have the stamina to dance all night and said that they should keep away. “If people are not well, they will not have the stamina to dance. Anybody who has fever, cough and cold is requested to stay away from any public gatherings including garba venues,” he said.
Meanwhile officials are undertaking the exercise of educating people about swine flu and making them more aware of the symptoms and methods of transmission. Reportedly nonresident Gujaratis have also been advised to keep away this year.
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Posted in: H1N1 • Swine Flu News
