Surat / New Delhi: On the occasion of Navratri, organisers of a 'Garba' carnival in Gujarat's Surat city are using the platform to spread AIDS awareness among the people.
The organisers have also brought several HIV positive people to the carnival to make them a part of the festivities.
"Here you will not be able to make out who is HIV positive and who is not. Anyone who comes here will realise that there is no difference, no negative quality. There is only a bias, apart from which they are exactly the same as anybody else," said Vipul Liliawala, organiser of the Dandiya carnival.
"After coming here, they (HIV positive people) feel better and get a place where they can enjoy and feel a change of situation," Liliawala added.
According to a United Nations report, the number of HIV positive persons in India is 5.7 million. Besides, the stigma attached to the disease prevents some people from reporting their status.
Also, many deaths are not recorded as HIV-related in medical records.
Garba is a devotional dance, which is organised during nine nights of Navratri festival. Traditionally from Gujarat state, it has become a rage all over India, and is celebrated with full fervour.
Even though the songs played these days are movie numbers or remixes, most of the participants enjoy it even more.
"Garba is a very elegant dance form, plus it's got a lot of enjoyment in it where you just totally go and let your hair lose, totally freak out and have fun," said a Garba enthusiast, Neha.
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