GANDHINAGAR: The colourful garba and dandiya raas, traditional folk dances that symbolise navaratri in Gujarat, have become a platform to promote the State as a tourist destination. The dance forms, popularised by Gujaratis around the globe, have been captured in films but only now has the Gujarat Government woken up to its potential to earn revenue.

The traditional experience found a new expression on Saturday when at the helipad near the residences of the Governor and the Chief Minister here, a mega cultural event involving over 660 artists including from foreign countries displayed their dance forms. The event follows an interest expressed by Israeli television to make a programme on the navratri celebrations in the State.

The festival was preceded by a seminar titled `Shakti' at Ahmedabad in which Sudha Murthy, wife of Narayana Murthy, founder of Infosys, addressed a gathering of bureaucrats and women journalists. Chief Minister Narendra Modi's speech there referred to Gujarat's tourism potential also. "We are focusing on events, festivals, transportation, publishing literature, guide services and special incentives to the hotel industry.

Our hospitality speaks for itself. During Navaratri festival more than one million musical instruments are used. Lakhs of musicians are employed and crores of people dance." The event generates employment for weavers, potters and artisans too.

Gujarat began by developing its infrastructure such as roads and hotels to bring it on a par with its neighbour, Rajasthan. The two States could be linked in a single circuit since many of their heritage sites had much in common.

Both States had heritage sites that are of interest not only to tourists but to researchers, indologists and Buddhist and Hindu pilgrims.

"Gujarat has much to offer to the tourist. We missed the bus 15 years ago. The State is now catching up," Mr. Modi says.

A village tourism model that will showcase its culture and arts is on the anvil. This will allow artisans to promote their craft and earn a profit without losing out to middlemen.

Gram Haat Sanstha (village mall) has been conceived with support from Indian Institute of Management executives, and will ensure that profit from sales made by the village artisans is retained as village development fund.

About seven lakh people in tribal belts have so far benefited from the tourism initiative, Mr. Modi says. Eco-tourism would further help the tribal population. Tribal youths have been trained as guides while the Sardar Sarovar project on the Narmada has improved their livelihood opportunities, he claims.

The `Vibrant Gujarat' summit held in 2003, 2005 and 2007 will focus on the resident Gujarati population but the 2006 and 2008 summit will be devoted to the non-resident Gujaratis.

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