As the number of COVID-19 cases continue to climb up, the Gujarat government, on Saturday, announced that the state-level Navratri festival between October 17 and 25 will not be held this year.
An official spokesperson said the decision has been taken considering the larger public interest.
COVID-19 cases have been on the rise in Gujarat. Earlier, the Gujarat High Court had pulled the state government over the alleged poor state of affairs in Ahmedabad’s Civil Hospital, considered to be the largest in Asia.
In the last 24 hours that ended at 5pm on Saturday, the state recorded 1,417 new cases, taking the total number of positive cases in the state to 1,31,808. Gujarat has so far seen recovery of 1,11,909 patients.
The last 24-hour period also saw 13 deaths, taking the death toll to 3,409.
Gujarat is famous for its Navratri festival, and during his stint as the chief minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi used to market it as the 'world’s longest dancing festival'.
Recently, the association of doctors had urged the state government to ban social gatherings during the upcoming Navratri festival.
Dr. Mona Desai, president of Ahmedabad Medical Association, had said it would be catastrophic if social gatherings are allowed.
In Gujarat, Ahmedabad and Surat have remained hotspots and now the cases are increasing in Rajkot and Saurashtra region as well.