Written by Viraj Paranjape and Ruta Patil
Navratri has seen a surge of garba and dandiya events across Pune, drawing students, young professionals, and families. While the festive trend has grown rapidly in recent years, with elaborate venues and ticketed events becoming common, participants say poor management and overcrowding have continued to dampen the experience.
Many participants argue that the responsibility lies with organisers, who must anticipate large turnouts and plan accordingly. “My experience this time was better compared to last year, and that is because I went with my male friends. But the management was still bad, overcrowding, people almost climbing on top of each other, and no bouncers inside. There was a huge ruckus. Management could have been so much better,” said Sejal Patil, who attended an event in Bibwewadi.
Others raised similar concerns. “There was no crowd management. Barely five security personnel were deployed for nearly 500 people. Many had to leave mid-way because of overcrowding,” said Antra Wankhede, describing her experience at a Karve Nagar garba night.
Despite the chaos, the popularity of garba in Pune has only grown. For many families, it is seen as a safer alternative to pubs and late-night parties.
Male participants also say they take the responsibility for ensuring safety. (Express Photo)
“Since it’s garba, parents in my group allowed girls to stay out late. For pubs or parties, there’s always some element of fear. In garba, they feel safer. There were nine of us, five girls, four guys. In my four years of attending, I’ve had no bad experience,” said Srushti Maheshwari.
She added that while organisers should improve safety measures, the best part remains “dressing up and dancing,” though she dislikes the trend of blasting DJ songs.
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Male participants also say they take the responsibility for ensuring safety. “I always accompany my female friends. Even though the events we attend are safe, I’ve heard of many places where chaos broke out. So every season, accompanying them and ensuring their safety is a priority,” said Anshul Desai, who visited a Koregaon Park event.
As garba cements itself as a key cultural trend in Pune’s festive calendar, the gap between its soaring popularity and the quality of its management remains evident. While the celebrations continue to bring colour and energy to the city, participants are clear that safety and organisation need to match the growing demand.
(Viraj Paranjape and Ruta Patil are interns with The Indian Express)
