As the nine days commenced on Monday, the ‘Queen of Garba’ performed in the city, and these fans travelled from all over to witness her live as has been their ritual for more than a decade
Travelling from all over Mumbai, these fans made their way to BKC on Monday to dance to Falguni Pathak's tunes. Photos Courtesy: Nascimento Pinto
Indian singer Falguni Pathak has been synonymous with Navratri for as long as we can remember, and this year is no different. While she performs every year in the city, this year, fans have travelled to witness her live in Bandra Kurla Complex for the first time on the first day with their friends and family, to kick off the season with fun and dance.
Malad-based Ekta Shah is one of them who has been a loyalist, as she has been attending shows of the ‘Queen of Garba’ for the last 19 years and has won every single time. Such has been her love for the artist, that she has inculcated this tradition in her daughter Rivana, who has been attending Falguni Pathak’s shows for as long as she can remember. “I am super excited for this Navratri because I have been waiting for it for months. It is my favourite festival. I have gone many times over the years and Falguni Pathak is my favourite too,” shares the nine-year-old excitedly.
You can see her love for the festival in the fact that she is dressed for the occasion in a modern take to the traditional chaniya choli pairing it up with sneakers that light up. “My mother dressed me up. Every time, she dresses me up, I get inspired by her to dance gracefully,” she adds. “She is Generation Next,” adds senior Shah, continuing, “Dancing to Falguni Pathak’s music is amazing. We have been fan-following her for a long time. She is just zabardast. So, wherever she goes, we go there. We even went to Ankleshwar in Gujarat behind her one year.”
Such is the fandom of the Shahs that they even listen to Falguni’s music during the year, even when it is not Navratri. It has been a two decade-long journey for senior Shah, who has been dancing during Navratri all her life but fell in love with the music of the ‘Queen of Garba’ close to 20 years ago and hasn’t looked back ever since. “We realised that this is what we need – the beat, music and the way the step and flow go, and that is absolutely amazing. The Shahs are joined by their relative, who travelled from Kandivali, to celebrate with them. With 'Mane Mavtar Made Tho Maa Amba Jeva Madjo' and ‘Khodiyar Maa’ among their favourites, they are definitely excited for the rest of the season.
It is no different for Raj Valia, a Vile Parle resident, who has been coming for Falguni Pathak’s show during Navratri for the last eight years. He shares, “While I have been coming for Falguni’s shows for a long time, this is the first time, it is happening on such a grand scale. Every time, we used to go to the other places, but coming here is a different experience.” While he is a fan of many of her songs, it is ’Maine Payal Hai Chhankai’ is his all-time favourite like many others, who don’t necessarily play garba, but have grown up listening to her music. Valia, who believes she sings in a voice that nobody else in India can do, came along with his 10 friends to celebrate, sharing the mood of thousands of Mumbaikars, this season.
The energy is high even among Aditya Tripathi and his friends Nikesh Tripathi, Janak Dave and Manasvi Desai – all of whom have travelled from Borivali to witness Falguni Pathak live. Dressed in traditional, colourful attire, their energy is palpable for the season. “We are quite excited to watch Falguni this year because this is her first time performing in BKC and it is a much bigger and better venue.” Having seen her live for the last eight years, this is familiar territory, but the energy is high. “My favourite song is definitely ’Maine Payal Hai Chhankai’, “ chimes in Janak, as Nikesh, adds, “For me, it is ‘Hu To Sodi De Mari Mata Nahi Sode’,” but not without Manasvi thoughtfully saying another crowd-favourite ‘Yaad Piya Ki Aane Lagi’ setting the tone for Navratri this year.
Many others like them thronged Jio Convention Centre to dance their heart out as early as 5 pm to be ready in time for the Radiance Dandiya Navratri Utsav 2025 with Falguni Pathak, produced by Purple Blue Events & Ideas and TribeVibe Entertainment. Dressed in many different colours like yellow, green, purple and red, their chaniya cholis and kediyus, people of all age groups soaked in the festivities that went on late into the night till 2 am.
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