BITA Garba plays on till midnight

The zing was back at the Garba function organized by Baroda IT Association (BITA)
after the Government of Gujarat extended the deadline of the loudspeakers from
10 pm to 12 am during the 10-day Navaratri festival. BITA is now organizing
Garba from 7 pm to 12 pm at Alkapuri in Baroda.

Due to the 10 pm deadline, some of the regular sponsors of the BITA Garba
Mahotsav had earlier backed out. Dinesh Patel, President, BITA, said,
"Earlier we had few sponsorships from HCL, Intel, BSNL and others. But now
after the deadline relaxation we got a donation of Rs 50,000 from Mukt Jewelers.
Coca Cola is also serving its beverages at the function."

This year BITA is charging Rs 25 per viewer and Rs 50 per player for each
day. The season pass for a player is Rs 300 and for a viewer is Rs 150. Patel
said, "The number of visitors this year, was 3,000. However, last year when
we had 4,000-5,000 visitors per day." He added that like every year, this
year also, the main attraction of BITA Garba Mahotsav would be lighting of 2,000
lamps during the aarti.

Shilpi Das

Mumbai