This story is from October 7, 2018

Diseases outbreak dents Navratri fervour

Diseases outbreak dents Navratri fervour
This year, revellers will have only two big venues for Garba celebrations-Surat International Exhibition and Convention Centre (SIECC) at Sarsana and Survarnabhumi party plot at Piplod
SURAT: Call it double trouble, few garba organizers in the city have backed out from organizing commercial garba events during the nine nights of Navratri festival in the Diamond City this year. Reason: Swine flu scare and recessionary trend in the Diamond City ahead of Navratri festival.
However, there is a lone venue at SIECC at Sarsana where special arrangements have been made for ozonized air to protect revellers against H1N1 virus.

This year, revellers will have only two big venues for Garba celebrations-Surat International Exhibition and Convention Centre (SIECC) at Sarsana and Survarnabhumi party plot at Piplod. Until last year, revellers had many choices and could visit garba grounds in Athwalines, Piplod, Sarsana and Adajan.
Chirag Shah of Destiny Entertainment Private Limited told TOI, “This is first time that we have backed out from organizing commercial garba event during nine nights in the city. Two factors are responsible; one is swine flu scare and the other downturn in textile and diamond markets. We could not find sponsors for the event as nobody is willing to shell out money.”
Shah added, “Swine Flu has raised its head in the city. We have been hearing about positive cases from across the city every day. We did not want to take chance and risk lives of garba revellers. This was the prime reason why we backed off this year.”
There are commercial garba event organizers like G-9 group who are taking utmost precautions for garba revellers. The G-9 group will organize garba event at SIECC at Sarsana on 1.16 lakh square feet hall where ozonized air will oxidize airborne pollutants, then revert to oxygen, leaving behind cleansed and freshened air.

“We will be using ozonized air on the floor area of 1.16 lakh square feet during the nine nights of celebrations. The ozone air will neutralize smells and also reduces airborne microbes such as bacteria, moulds and spores. This will be a big help in curbing spread of H1N1 virus at the venue,” says Hiren Kakadia of G-9 group.
Dr Ashish Naik, deputy commissioner (health), said, “Commercial garba organizers and others have been asked to hire medical teams at the venue. The details of persons suffering from cough, cold and fever have to be submitted to us on a daily basis.”
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