In a bid to boost tourism and propel the state on the international tourism map, the government of Gujarat along with Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd (TCGL) has decided to promote Navratri, one of the biggest festivals of the state and a mega international event, this year.

TCGL is designing special integrated circuits and packages for Navratri (September 26 - October 3), a nine night festival of dance and music dedicated to Goddess Ambaji. The state government has also organised 'Vibrant Gujarat: Global Investors Summit,' a three-day meet comprising of a series of conventions, exhibitions and seminars aimed at creating awareness about investment opportunities in the state, to coincide with the International Navratri Festival (INF), pegged as the biggest cultural extravaganza.

Reliance Industries Ltd have reportedly tied-up as the main sponsors for the planned INF. TCGL will soon also launch a major publicity campaign including editorial coverage in leading travel magazines like Conde Nast Traveller, Natal, High Life etc in Europe, USA, South Africa, Middle-East and South East Asia to attract foreign tourists.

TCGL is planning to tie up with leading tour operators abroad to sell packages for the INF. They have also created a website www.navratrifestival.com for the event.

Special packages ranging from two and three days to nine nights and ten days are currently being worked out by TCGL for the INF. Tourists will cover key places of cultural, archeological and religious significance as part of the special integrated circuits designed for the INF.

Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Rajkot, Surat, Jamnagar, Junaghad, Bhavnagar, Porbandar and Mehsana have also been identified as cities and towns for showcasing festivities for the INF. The other venues selected in collaboration with the temple trusts for the INF are Ambaji Temple and Bahucharaji Temple, both in north Gujarat; Pavaghad, hilltop shrine near Vadodara and Unai Temple at Navsari.

While 'garba' and 'raas' are the most prevalent dance forms of Navratri, billed as the 'longest dance festival of the world' the INF will also showcase other traditional folk forms like gofan, teen tali, tippani, hudo and Bhavai, folk drama, a major crowd puller during the festival.

"Navratri is an age old festival celebrated all over the state. Besides being the best showcase of traditions and culture of the state, it is truly a cosmopolitan festival with people from all communities participating. This prompted us to make this festival a mega international event. If the Beer Fest in Berlin can attract half a million visitors, Navratri with its rich and vibrant cultural exposition has the potential of attracting a large number of tourists," stated Kishore Rao D, who took over the reins as managing director, TCGL a month ago.

According to Rao, while revenue through tourism has increased by 10 to 12 per cent in the recent past with INF he expects it to be boosted even further. In his opinion the idea behind INF is not just to promote tourism but the state on the whole.