In Rajkot, it is the police and the commercial organisers who decide on the dress code for the garba revellers. Backless cholis and low waist ghaghras may be the traditional ensemble of Gujarat, but young girls are being discouraged from donning it as it is considered ‘obscene and provocative’ by the organisers and the police.

“We have been clearly told by a couple of organisers to come only in ‘decent’ clothes. Women in rural Gujarat wear backless cholis. It’s a traditional dress of communities like the Rabari and the Bharwads, and there is nothing obscene about it,” said Sonu.

Rajkot Commissioner of Police Sudhir Sinha has issued an order to all the commercial organisers to ban the entry of participants in ‘obscene and provocative attire.’ Incidentally, Rajkot is the only city in Gujarat where the Commissioner’s office has issued such an order to the garba organisers.

For the strict implementation of the order, organisers have also been asked by the Commissioner’s office to depute a special security officer to keep an eye on the dress of each and every participant entering the garba venue.

Organisers are more than happy to follow the order, as they believe it helps in maintaining the sacred and spiritual atmosphere associated with the worship of the Goddess during the nine nights of Navratri.

“Dandiya-Garbas are a form of worship. No one should be allowed to wear anything that can spoil the sanctity attached to the festival,” said Nitin Bhardwaj, the organiser of Race Course Club, one of the biggest organisers of commercial garba in Saurashtra. The other big player, Pioneer too is following suit.

Bhardwaj, who is also the Rajkot city BJP president, added: “We ask participants not to come in backless or low waist dresses. Though we agree that it is an individual choice, but we aim to maintain a decorum. It is an arvachin (traditional) event and not a fashion parade.”