Gujarat Police have deployed more than 22,000 personnel, including police officers, Home Guards and SHE Teams, across the state for Navratri 2026, with women’s safety teams operating at about 730 important locations in cities and districts.
The security arrangements were announced ahead of the festival, as large numbers of residents are expected to attend garba events across Gujarat. The deployment will cover garba venues, nearby public areas and food outlets, where officials said additional monitoring would be carried out.
SHE Teams will operate in plain clothes as well as traditional clothing at selected locations. The arrangement is intended to allow personnel to monitor crowds without drawing attention and identify suspicious or antisocial behaviour. Police said immediate and strict action would be taken at the spot if anyone attempts to harass women or girls.
The deployment combines police, Home Guards and specialised women’s safety teams. The state-wide arrangement covers both urban and rural areas, although the source report does not provide a city-wise breakdown of personnel or locations.
Technology will form another part of the security plan. Gujarat Police will use closed-circuit television cameras and body-worn cameras during the festival. These measures are expected to support surveillance at garba venues and public spaces, while also recording incidents involving deployed personnel.
Authorities will also display information about women’s safety helplines and security agencies at garba pandals and other public locations. The purpose is to help attendees seek assistance quickly during an emergency. The report does not specify the helpline numbers or explain how response teams will be coordinated across individual venues.
The arrangements place responsibility for festival safety across several layers of the public-safety system. Police and Home Guards will provide the broader deployment, while SHE Teams will focus particularly on women’s safety and monitoring for harassment. Venue-level surveillance and public information are being added to the physical presence of security personnel.
Navratri events create a temporary but significant demand for crowd management in Gujarat, bringing together large gatherings, food areas and movement around venues. The police deployment is therefore designed to cover not only the main celebrations but also surrounding public spaces where incidents may occur.
Gujarat Police have said the arrangements are intended to enable citizens, especially women and young women, to attend garba events in a secure environment. The next operational step is the deployment of the announced teams, cameras and body-worn equipment at designated venues and public locations during the festival.
