With the arrival of Navratri this year, many Indians are unhappy.
The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has ruined their festivities as a Navratri celebration sans Garba is very heartbreaking.
But, fashion designing students of the Institute of Design and Technology (IDT), Surat designed Garba costumes with protective gear and named it ‘Covid Garba Dress’. The dress is made of polypropylene fabric licenced by the South India Textile Research Association (SITRA).
What is this dress?
These dresses, made out of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) overalls, are hand-painted by the students. The Garba costume for women has beautiful traditional drawings on full-length skirts.
The male costumes have bright pictures of “Dandiya Raas”. The “choli” is filled with mirror work to add a dash of sparkle to the PPE Garba “Chanya Choli”.
Watch the students perform amazing Garba in their hand-painted PPE Garba costumes designed by them.
#WATCH Gujarat: A group of students of fashion designing in Surat perform 'Garba' sporting hand-painted costumes made of PPE kits. These costumes have been designed by them. (15.10) pic.twitter.com/sKSYk7e3iy
— ANI (@ANI) October 16, 2020
Read More: Watch: Popular North-East Festivals All Indians Must Know About
According to Disha Patel, a student at IDT, “Under the guidance of their faculty – Ms Aarushi Upreti, the 1st year students of IDT INDIA crafted a Covid Garba outfit using hand painting and mirror as embellishments and designed a two-layer fully protected couple dress on PPE Jumpsuits with masks and dandiya sticks.”
“The layering has been done in such a way that people can maintain social distancing while they perform Garba. These Garba outfits are very economical, provide full protection and are very comfortable to wear and dispose of.”
Professor Aarushi Upreti, Faculty, IDT said, “Since this year government has banned Garba, hence to add joy amidst the festive season, these covid Garba outfits will be gifted to Covid Care Volunteers of Civil Hospital, Surat. This initiative was taken to show gratitude to the artisans who have worked diligently to earn their living during this pandemic.”
Festivities during COVID-19
All Navratri public celebrations and Garba gatherings have been cancelled this year by the Gujarat government due to the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic.
The Gujarat government has circulated coronavirus-related rules for the Navratri season. In Gujarat, Navratri is celebrated with huge public gatherings, which may lead to an increase in COVID-19 infections.
The dazzle and beauty of Navratri in India this year will be extensively missing but the people are coping up by being really creative so that people can enjoy the festivities safely.
Image Credits: Google Images
Sources: Mid-Day, Hindustan Times, NDTV
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This post is tagged under: Surat, Students, Covid, Garba, Dance, PPE Dresses, Navratri, coronavirus pandemic, heartbreaking, fashion designing, Institute of Design and Technology, Covid Garba Dress, South India Textile Research Association, Personal Protective Equipment, traditional, Chanya Choli, Dandiya Raas, Disha Patel, IDT INDIA, Aarushi Upreti, Civil Hospital, Gujarat government, Gujarat, COVID-19 infections
