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Playing it big in little Ena on Navratri
Published on Mon, Sep 25, 2006 at 11:53, Updated on Fri, Sep 29, 2006 at 15:59 in 
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Ena (Gujarat): While the big cities in Gujarat draw the biggest crowds during Navratri, a little village called Ena near Surat, gives them stiff competition.
The only thing that reminds you that this is actually a small village is the odd tractor that looks out of the place with its surroundings.
Situated 30 kilometre south of Surat, half the village's 5000-strong population lives abroad and signs of their strong ties to it are everywhere.
"This time I came just for Navratri. I heard so many things about Ena," says 20-year-old Bhugesh Patel who was born in Ena but migrated to the US when he was four.
He now lives in Georgia and is one of numerous NRIs who has started coming to his native village, not for Christmas, like they used to, but for Navratri.
"They are not exposed to Indian values there, so they come here every year during Navratri to learn about their culture," says an NRI businessman, Jekishanbhai Patel.
Due to the wealth that pours into Ena, thanks to the foreign community, the village has now also become a top garba destination in the region.
During Navratri, one of the local school grounds sees around 15,000 people who come here from far and wide to enjoy a lavish affair.
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