I'm not good at estimating numbers, but there were cetainly thousands at the Navarati celebrations, like a whole cricket ground up and dancing as well as filling the stands. It was big!! Under the auspices of Carole's friend Dhaval and his family, we had a short run through the queue and a place in the centre ring. The Navaratri costumes on many of the children and young women and men were amazing - rich with embroidery and mirrors in traditional fashion. As the evening wore on the crowd grew & grew and the dancing got wilder. We were a bit disorientated to begin with, but Dhaval's lovely wife and children took us in hand and soon had even the most senior and reserved of us busting a move or two. Leslie certainly got into the spirit of things!!
Despite the size of the crowd, the vigour of the dancing and the testosterone charged atmosphere, there was no hint of trouble while we were there, although I did notice that Dhaval and Kuldip, our guide, were keeping a fairly sharp watch. I thought it probably helped that Kachchh is a dry area ... technically, and overtly at least, and I didn't see the slightest sign of D&D on the night, It was wonderful first night in Kachchh and I took many many photos ...
Tomorrow we are off to Mandvi, to stay at the exotic accommodation patronised by Michael Palin while he was there working on the Mandivi Dhow crew documentary. Which reminds me that we shared our accommodation at the Prince Hotel in Bhuj with Gryff Rhys Jones, who was there working on a BBC documentary on Kachchhi handcrafts - Carole's friend Rangu, who has shop at the Bhuj Bazaar, got a support role guiding him round the bazaar, and several of the craftspeople we have been visiting will also be featured.
Mandvi does not have internet connection, so the next report will be a few days away when we got back to Bhuj.
Anyone wishing to get in touch with either of us or any member of the party could sent emails to:
Robyn
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