Gujarat tries to rebuild image

Rajeev Khanna
BBC correspondent in Ahmedabad

Gujarat wants to promote the festival along the lines of Rio

The nine-day Hindu festival of Navratri, which begins on Thursday, is being used by the Indian state of Gujarat to rebuild the image of the state tarnished by last year's Hindu-Muslim riots.

The government, under the leadership of Narendra Modi, is trying to promote Gujarat as an investment and tourist destination.

A series of events is being organised across the state to mark the festival, which is being held in nine cities and marketed as the world's longest dance gathering.

A massive international promotion exercise has been undertaken by the government.

According to the state's chief secretary, PK Lahiri: "Hoardings have been put up at places such as Heathrow airport and John F Kennedy airport in New York."

Thousands of e-mails have been sent across the globe inviting people to visit Gujarat.

"We want people to come and see for themselves that Gujaratis are the best of people," Mr Lahiri says.

Policy announcements

The government plans to develop Navratri along the lines of Brazil's Rio de Janeiro carnival.

Not all Gujaratis believe the money is being well spent

Visitors are being encouraged to stay at the houses of ordinary Gujaratis.

The Gujarat government has also taken the opportunity to announce several new policies, including several on industry.

"Gujarat will be the petroleum capital of India. We will be achieving a double figure annual growth rate which is more than those referred to as the Asian Tigers," Mr Modi said.

The policies aim to attract more investment to exploit crude oil and gas reserves.

Mr Modi also said developing ports along the 1,600-kilometre coastline was a key issue.

The chief minister announced that a series of reforms would be initiated in industry and taxation.

Hindus fought Muslims in last year's Gujarat riots

Tourism would also be boosted. State tourism minister Anil Patel said procedures for tourists to obtain alcohol would be eased.

The festival starts on Thursday with a huge dance gathering at Kankaria lake in Ahmedabad. Nine stages have been set up around the lake.

From 28 September, a series of business and industrial conventions and seminars will be held in Ahmedabad and Surat under the name "Vibrant Gujarat-Global Investors' Summit".

While many people are enthusiastic at the prospect of the arrival of more foreign tourists and in developing business ties, they are apprehensive about spending public money on this scale.

Pinal Jadhav, a chauffeur, said: "It is good that our culture is being promoted but the government must not forget that it is debt-ridden. We hope the effort brings good results."