Pre-Navratri garba events gain popularity in Mumbai weeks before nine-day festival

Garba instructor Harsh Doshi hosts participants through his Garba-Tri event in Charni Road. Pics/Ashish Raje

Navratri is no longer limited to nine nights in Mumbai. Weeks before the festival, revellers in chaniya cholis and kediyas are stepping onto dance floors across the city. Pre-Navratri events are fast becoming a new addition to the festive calendar, offering enthusiasts a chance to socialise and get into the groove before the main nine-day celebrations begin.

Culture evolves

What was once restricted to residential societies has expanded into professional workshops and commercial ticketed events. Organisers note that smaller pre-festival nights offer lower entry fees and a more relaxed atmosphere compared to celebrity-led main events.

OrganiserSpeak

Harsh Doshi, organiser, Gaba-Tri 2026, Madhavbaug Mandir Hall ground, CP Tank Road
"Pre-Navratri events let people enjoy garba without the overwhelming main-festival crowds. They're also a great, pressure-free opportunity for beginners to learn. We used to teach garba moves a month before the festival. But in the last few years, when we reached out to our students to know how their experience was of playing garba at main events, all they said was that the events were so crowded that playing garba in full scope was difficult. So this year we decided that we would teach and host an event as well. We began teaching and hosting garba nights with various themes from almost a month before the nine-day festival starts."

Another organiser
"The response has shown us that people want more opportunities to play garba. Earlier, everyone waited for Navratri to begin. Now, they are happy to attend smaller events beforehand."

RevellerSpeak

Ayushi Mehta
"I plan to attend the pre-Navratri Garba Socials on October 10 at Nesco, Goregaon. It's a great warm-up before the main festival. Plus, the passes are much cheaper."

Nishita Shinde
"I attended Naitik Nagda's Raas Utsav in Mulund on October 4 with 20-25 friends. Smaller events like this are far more comfortable than overwhelming main Navratri crowds. It had everything - music, traditional attire, and great atmosphere - without being overcrowded."