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Floods dampen Surat's festival spirits
Published on Sat, Sep 23, 2006 at 20:15, Updated on Fri, Sep 29, 2006 at 15:45 in 
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Surat: Navratra celebrations are on in most parts of the country. But the mood is somber in the diamond city of Surat where people are still recouping losses suffered in the recent floods.
Barely a month ago, river Tapi rose 30 feet above the danger mark, submerging 95 per cent of Surat. In total, it faced losses up to Rs 35,000 crore.
"Today people have been mentally broken because of the loss. The festival spirit is dampened because of the floods. But this sort of thing can't happen every-time," says textile manufacturer Harish Prajapati, whose power-loom unit was almost destroyed in the floods.
This year, it will have to struggle to weave some sparkle back into its festival season.
Sanghavi Exports, one of the largest diamond units in Surat suffered up to 60 per cent losses in floods.
"We've seen a lot in the last one month, and the excitement that is usually there in this period of time, is just lost right now," Sanghavi Exports Director, Aagam Sanghavi says.
However, in some parts of the city, people (mostly youth) are preparing for the Navratras with the same old fervour.
In true Gujratai style, the garba classes are on and preparations at some of the garba grounds are taking place, though in a lot more modest fashion than it used to be in previous years.
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