After 2-year lull, local artists find new wind this Navratri

Nagpur: The nine-day Navratri festivities, the first big celebration after two years of pandemic lull, have infused a new life into the craft of performing artists across the Vidarbha region. Singers, dancers, choreographers, instrumentalists, musicians, floral decorators and many other artists who earn their bread and butter directly or indirectly through stage performances had a busy time during the nine-day festivities. In 2021, at least four performing artists in Vidarbha died by suicide because they had no work and no earnings due to pandemic restrictions on public gatherings and events.
Groups of singers and musicians were busy this time as most Durga puja pandals organized musical shows. Jas jagrans, chaukis and garba/dandiya events with live orchestra were back this year. Many organizers hosted these events and they were jam-packed.
“I felt like getting a lost treasure back,” said Deepak Singh, who sings at jagrans. “We were missing this for the last two years. This season brings the biggest part of our annual income,” he said. Not just singers, but those who provide musical accompaniment to them also got multiple jobs during these nine days. Though there are no official figures available, a rough estimate by organizers is that the performing arts business must have crossed the Rs40 crore mark in Nagpur district.
Choreographer Pratik Pal said he has been busy for six weeks before the start of Navratri. “Garba and dandiya events were not organized due to Covid restrictions for the last two seasons. This year, I trained at least 100 young girls and boys. They participated in several events and won prizes,” said Pal.
Orchestra singers and musicians, their support staff, dancers who portray different deities by wearing colourful drapery, and Nagpur’s famous local ‘Wagh’ dancers who paint their bodies and dance in tiger’s costumes, also said they participated in several jagran events and had a good season.
Be it sculptors and pandal decorators invited from West Bengal and labourers from Chhattisgarh, to floral decorators from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and technicians, electricians — Navratri provided a big earning opportunity to all.
Not just Nagpur, the festivity provided business to artists across Vidarbha. Organizers in Chandrapur, Yavatmal, Amravati and Akola districts invited singers and music groups from adjacent states of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Their dance and devotional song events were highly appreciated.
“Hopefully this new beginning after the pandemic should continue throughout the season,” said singer Jagruti Kamble. “Theatre, music and performing artists’s season starts in September and continues till late January. With big public gatherings and municipal elections round the corner, we are hopeful to get a hit season this year,” she added.
One festival, many livelihoods
Singers | Classical, devotional, orchestra singers, bhajan, jagran, jas singers from across central India
Dancers | From traditional Wagh (tiger) dancers in Nagpur to those who portray different deities
Choreographers | Take garba, dandiya training camps months before Navratri
Instrumentalists | Provide musical accompaniment to live garba/dandiya shows
Floral artists | Decorate Mata Ki Chauki, pandals, stage etc
Technicians | Provide electricity, lighting, decoration