We are developing Gujarat as a family tourist destination
Ahmedabad, Wednesday: Inaugurating Navratri-2011 festival at a glittering function here this evening, Gujarat Chief Minister today expressed his resolve to provide global identity to Gujarat’s unique dance form of Garba held every autumn through nine nights. It is a religious festival linked to worshipping Goddess of Shakti.The Navratri-2011 festival of the state’s traditional dance form Raas and Garba has been jointly organized by Gujarat Tourism and Gujarat Industries Navratri Festival Society at Gujarat University Ground till October 5, 2011 daily from 7 p.m. to midnight
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Modi said that Gujarat will set new benchmarks not only in agriculture and industry but in tourism as well. The state is endowed with a number of religious, historical and socio-cultural sites, including that at Dayanad Saraswati’s birthplace at Tankara, Dwarka, Jyotirlinga at Somnath, Girnar, Pavagadh, Dakor and Ambaji, each capable of world tourists attraction centres.
The Chief Minister inaugurated a book, titled ‘Fairs and Festivals of Gujarat’, published by Gujarat Tourism.
Welcoming the guests, Society’s Chairman Parimal Nathwani said the industrialists of the state had decided to worship Navdurga since 2003 under the aegis of the society, with its ground thrown open to all cross-section of the society participate in the festivity.
Prominent among those present at the inaugural function included Revenue Minister Anandiben Patel, Youth Services and Cultural Affairs Minister Fakirbhai Vaghela, Tourism Minister Jay Narayan Vyas, other Ministers, Gujarat Tourism Chairman Kamlesh Patel, Chief Secretary A.K. Joti, Principal Tourism Secretary Vipul Mittra and Ahmedabad Mayor Asit Vora.
The Chief Minister was also present at a Garba Festival organized by Gujarat Law Society, having a large number of educational institutions at its campus.