The city of Ahmedabad does not sleep during Navratri. One sees just about anyone from all walks of life, dressed to dance till the wee hours of the morning. The streets come alive with the people of Ahmedabad eating their favourite fafda-jalebi, gathiya, papdi, dabeli, pani puris, bhel.

Besides the dances and gastronomic delights on the streets, Navratri also marks an occasion for various cultural groups to showcase their performances, which depicts the vibrant Gujarati tradition and culture.

An interesting feature of Navratri celebrations in Ahmedabad and other cities in Gujarat is the Garba. A circular dance performed by women around an earthen pot filled with water called a garbo. A betel nut and a silver coin are placed within the pot, called a kumbh, on top of which a coconut is placed. As the dancers whirl around the pot, a singer and a drummer provide musical accompaniment. The participants clap in a steady rhythm. The dance usually starts slowly and gets faster and faster as the music increases tempo, until the dance abruptly comes to a halt. There is a pause for a while and the dance commences once again, the singer leading with a new song. The bhajans and garbas are sung in praise of the Goddess Durga.

Another popular Navratri dance is the Dandiya Raas. In this dance, men and women join the dance circle, holding small polished sticks or dandiyas. As they whirl to the intoxicating rhythm of the dance, men and women strike the dandiyas together, adding to the joyous atmosphere.

So popular are the Garba and the Dandiya Raas that competitions are held every year. The costumes worn for the dances are traditional and alive with colour. The dances usually commence late in the night and continue until early morning, testifying to their great popularity. Watching people from all walks of life and ages dance incessantly for hours together during Navratri is a rare spectacle.