She helps them stand on their feet

Rohini Khare imparts stitching skills to differently-abled people

Devanshi Joshi. Vadodara/ DNA
Saturday, October 11, 2008

A visit to this workshop will make visitors wonder about the novelty of the products produced there. The reason: all the items — starting from designer handbags, ties, wine bottle covers, napkins, bread baskets, cozy tea sets, baby gift sets, tissue box covers to other tailoring-designing products — on display are made not by normal human beings, but by differently abled.The workshop at Vasna road here is run by 65-year-old Rohini Khare, who provides vocational training to the differently abled to make them self-dependent. “For me, stitching was just a hobby initially, and I always like to experiment on stitching many things. Later, I started training the differently abled just to help them stand on their own feet and provide them with an opportunity to earn.” Rohini, who has done a certificate course in tailoring, loves using her talent in helping the differently-abled. “I used to work for different institutes providing training to the physically challenged people. But just giving them training is not sufficient, they should also be given an opportunity to earn and thats how the whole concept of a workshop started.” Here all the workers are paid respective amount on a daily basis for their work. “I make it a point that they finish their work on time and are efficient with their work as I treat them as normal people. You will be surprised but they are equally capable of doing their work on time,” she said.After seeing the hand-bags and other products, it is difficult to say that they have been made by physically challenged people. Rohini teaches them how to stitch through sign language.All present, four deaf and mute people and two physically challenged people are involved in making the hand bags and tailoring-designing stuff at Khares workshop. Because of this workshop, these differently abled workers are able to support their families financially.A woman worker at Khares workshop said: “Being physically challenged, it is difficult for a person like me to get normal jobs. I learned stitching work here and now I am happy that I am capable enough to give monetary support to my family.” On why mainly hand bags are made at the workshop, Rohini said, “I dont have that much money to invest in big items. Making hand bags dont cost much and it is also easy for the differently abled people to make them.”Khare works under the name of Rays which organises exhibitions at different places to sell the products made by the differently abled at her workshop. “I want to involve more and more differently-abled people in the workshop as they have the talent to prove themselves. All they need is inspiration,” Rohini said.

Here, Spiderman plays dandiya with Mahatma Gandhi

Every year, at a garba venue in Karelibaug, a fancy dress competition brings out the myriad colours of the nine-day festival

Devanshi Joshi. Vadodara/DNA

Thursday, October 09, 2008

Spiderman playing garba with Mahatma Gandhi can be seen here. Every year at a garba venue at Karelibaug in Vadodara, a fancy dress competition is organised on the eight day of Navratri, where all the performers come dressed up in different fancy dresses. Many Barodians enjoy garba in the getup of famous characters and personalities. Garba revellers can be seen dressed as Shivaji, Saibaba, Bharatmata, Narendra Modi, also as characters of movie 'Singh is King'. Nirad Pandya, an organizer, said: “Every year people at our garba wait for the eighth day of Navratri to participate in fancy dress competition as well as dance in unique attire. Ours is the only garba in the city which organises the fancy dress competition and it gets great response from garba enthusisasts.”This year, garba revellers at Karelibaug's garba danced in getup of cricketers, prince and princess while one couple wearing school uniform became centre of attraction. Garba revellers enjoyed the garba with attractive get up and got appreciation from viewers as well as other performers.The craze of participating with fancy dress was confined not only to youngsters but middle-age couples were also there who enjoyed the garba in getup of king-queen and students. Devang and Kumud Trivedi, a garba-loving couple, said: “We love to dance in Navratri with funky getup. Earlier, we used to feel shy in performing garba with fancy get up but after getting good response from viewers now we try different get ups every year. This year we have danced dressed in school uniforms. Our children also danced with us and we enjoyed the fest to the fullest.”

Gastronomic delight: After garba, Barodians prefer roadside eateries

People love eating at the popular roadside places to savour Gujarati dishes

Devanshi Joshi. Vadodara/DNA
Wednesday, October 08, 2008

On a normal day, one will find Barodians going out for continental, Chinese and other multi cuisine dishes at restaurants and food joints, but come Navratri and road side vendors get busy serving typical Gujarati specialties like papdi no loat and sev usal to hoards of hungry Barodians after garba.These food items are a rage among the food-lovers during this festival season and the famous road side food junctions in Vadodara have become the must-visit place for the revellers, especially after the garba. After utilising their energies dancing to their favourite garba tunes, the road side food joints are the last stop for the gastronomes in the city.The stalls of papdi no loat can be seen at every half kilo meters near garba venues in the city. Starting from Rs5 to Rs10 one small bowl of papdi no loat, garnished with oil and spices, is the must food item to have in Navratri. The vendors selling this item get good profit as the cost of preparing the loat doesnt cost much but the selling price gives good margin at the same time, people also find the price pocket friendly. Ramesh Patel, a papdi no loat stall owner near a garba venue at old Padra road in Vadodara, said, “Profit margin is very high in selling papdi no loat. We Patels are famous for making this item. My wife cooks the loat, which is made from boiling rice flour after adding and salt and spices in it. It is then served after garnishing it with vegetable oil and red chilli powder.”Talking to DNA, a group of garba lovers, including Arpan, Aditi, Nimit and others, said, “Navratri in Vadodara is not complete without papdi no loat. Every night, after dancing for hours at the garba venues, we try different papdi no loat stalls in the city. It is not only pocket friendly but after playing the garba spicy loat with extra oil gives us some energy. Nothing can beat the taste of Barodian road side food.”Next popular item is sev usal but is available only at selected places in the city like Rajmahal road, Station road and Chokhandi. The scene at these roadside food junctions at mid night is worth experiencing with every stall being jam-packed with people in colourful traditional dresses and savouring sev usal. This apart, stalls of khaman, dhokala, ragda petis, vada pav and chaats are other items which are popular among Barodians during Navratri. Economic prices and eating with friends in the open on the road side brings the city to life throughout the night.

Kids garba is gaining popularity

Exclusive garba venues for kids has nearly doubled this year

Devanshi Joshi. Vadodara/DNA
Sunday, October 05, 2008

Increasing number of exclusive garba venues for kids and the grandeur with which these are organized in city certainly reflect the enthusiasm of the Barodian children. Garba venues meant only for kids are gaining popularity in the city. In fact, it has nearly doubled this year.More than ten venues in the city are organising kids' garba this year. In most of the venues, children only up to 15 year are allowed in the ground. Interestingly at kids' garba, playback singing and instrument playing is also done by the kids. Group of kids make the garba enthusiasts dance on their beats.What attract kids' attention towards the garbas are gifts. Each participant is given gifts everyday. Anal Patel, an 11-year-old enthusiast, said, “From last three years, I am playing at kids' garba venue near my home. I like it here as it gives me enough space to dance in comparison to common garba venues, where we kids don't get any attention. Along with that, a new gift everyday adds excitement to our garba fervor.”Parents find kids' garba perfect for their children due to exclusive entry only for kids. Smita Shah, mother of 12-year-old twins, Rahul and Ruhali, said, “I prefer these garba venues for my kids as they provide an environment essentially of their kind also granting safety. At general garba venues it is difficult for children to dance. Here I can also see them dance.”Avani Patel, an organizer of kids' garba in Vadodara, said, “We have been organising kids' garba at Karelibag for last seven years. The increased number of young enthusiasts has made this place equivalent to other garba venues.” Young garba enthusiasts with their unique dressing style are also making the festival alive.

Glitter is back in jewellery this Navratri

Heavy traditional & ethnic looks have replaced oxidised & black metal ornaments

Devanshi Joshi. Vadodara/DNA
Wednesday, October 01, 2008

Tired of wearing the same type of oxidised jewellery every Navratri? Dont worry, jewellery trends this Navratri have have now become more colourful with beads, kundan and other embellishments from the black metal that we were used to seeing till recent times. Jewellery in trend this season will consist heavy sets bedecked with multi-colour stones, mirror work on abstract designs and also a variety of cloth-based jewellery. The Rajwadi and Kutchi-work jewellery designs, which were popularised by the latest Bollywood movie, Jodha Akbar, are in vogue this fest.Raju Kapdi, a jewellery store owner at Navabazar in Vadodara, said, “We have imported jewellery from Mumbai and Surat this year. Oxidised jewellery is not much in demand as coloured metal is in rage. Kada, tikka, baju bandh, necklace with diamond and kundan work are in fashion. We have imported ethnic jewellery from Kutch.”In Vadodara this time trend of heavy work on chania choli is lavishing the garba lovers and in matching with that mirror work and multi colour jewellery are going well in combination.“Fashion in jewellery has undergone drastic changes this Navratri,” said Rami Soni a jewellery seller in Vadodara. He said that its the heavy-look jewellery which currently rules the fashionistas world. “Mix and match jewellery is attracting the girls this festival. Rajwadi style of jewellery is in high demand,” Soni said.Ornaments based on cloth and embellished with tikki and kodi work is also in trend not only for its rich work, but also for its anti-allergic property. Krutika Jaha, a garba enthusiast, said, “I have purchased heavily embellished chania cholis with multi color and mirror work ornaments which is currently in fashion. This can be mixed and matched for different looks all the nine nights.”

Dabhoi to bedeveloped asa tourist spot

Devanshi Joshi. Vadodara/DNA

Monday, September 29, 2008

In an effort to promote tourism in Gujarat, the state tourism department has asked all districts to come up with their tourism development plans.The plan will see development of five areas, Dabhoi, Tentalav, Chanod, Karnali and Vadhvana in Vadodara district as a tourist circuit to attract more visitors. In the programme, Dabhoi will be the main centre in the tourist circuit development. Hirabhagole, a tourist attraction for its artistic statue and fort at Dabhoi, will be facilitated with the lighting around the fort. Tentalav, a lake near by Dabhoi will also be cleaned up and renovated to attract more tourists. Visitors will also have options of boating at religious places like Chanod and Karnali.Residential deputy collector Rajendra Sarvaiya said, “The purpose of the project is to develop the district. The proposal has been given to the state government and on the basis of the sanctioned grant, further developments will be done.”

Barodians make a beeline for garba CDs

Devanshi Joshi. Vadodara/DNA

Saturday, September 27, 2008

With Navratri just a few days away, revellers in the city are already into the festive mood by thronging music shops for cassettes and CDs of garba songs. Traditional folk songs, Gujarati movie songs and Hindi dandiya mix are in huge demand. And, with the increasing demand for these songs, the market for garba CDs in Vadodara is experiencing a boom time this Navratri.Different types of new albums have arrived this year with names like non-stop garba-2008, remix garba, dandia ni ramjhat and many more are becoming instant hits. Music-shop owners in city are witnessing an increase in demand of garba CDs due to these new arrivals.However, traditional Gujarati garba songs have always been close to the hearts of people of this city. Anup Vasvani, a music-shop owner at Rajmahel road, said: “The demand for garba CDs had in fact started a month before the Navratri festival as people need them for practice.” Said Sushil Soni, another music-shop owner at Fatehgunj: “Demand of garba CDs has left Hindi movie songs behind. Customers demand for garba songs these days. We have a variety of garba albums launched by music companies. This year almost 50 garba albums are ruling the market.” This year, a fusion of garba songs with different western music is becoming a rage among young Barodians.“Though the demand for fusion and remix songs is increasing, when it comes to playing garba, Vadodara is still famous for its traditional style of garbas during Navratri. Folk songs like Sanedo and Timali have always attracted huge crowd,” said Manoj Patel, a music shop-owner at Karelibaug.Not only audio albums, even video albums of popular garba singers shot at famous garba spots are also in high demand.