Ahmedabad garba permissions remain pending for dozens of organisers just two days before Navratri, with incomplete fire-safety clearances and other documents preventing authorities from finalising approvals for events across the city and rural police areas.
According to a report by Sandesh, 81 organisers within Ahmedabad city police limits have applied to hold garba events at clubs, party plots and grounds. None of those applications had received final approval at the time of the report because applicants had not completed the required fire-safety conditions and documentation.
The delay is centred on fire NOCs, or no-objection certificates, along with other mandatory papers required before organisers can receive permission from the police and local administration. The report said approvals had been stopped where documents were incomplete or the necessary safety requirements had not been fulfilled.
The position is different in areas covered by Ahmedabad rural police. Eighteen organisers had applied for permission there, but only two had secured approval after completing the required rules and paperwork. The remaining applications were still awaiting clearance.
The permissions process has direct implications for the city’s seasonal event infrastructure. Garba venues typically bring together large numbers of performers and spectators, making fire access, emergency preparedness and compliance documentation central to whether an event can legally proceed. In this case, the authorities are reported to be maintaining strict safety requirements rather than clearing applications with incomplete records.
The delay has left organisers making repeated visits to government offices as they seek to complete their applications before the festival begins. Performers and prospective attendees are also facing uncertainty over whether individual venues will receive approval in time, particularly with only a short period remaining before the first events.
The report did not provide details of the individual venues, the specific documents missing from each application, or a consolidated deadline for completing the approvals. It also did not state how many applications were likely to be cleared before Navratri. For organisers and attendees, the immediate next step remains the completion of fire NOCs and other required documentation, followed by final permission from the relevant authorities.
