We Prepared for Months to Be on Stage During These 10 Days: Arohi Kothari of the V4 Once More Band on Navratri

MUMBAI: Arohi Kothari of the V4 Once More band, which was formed by Ekta Purecha, Kaushal Purecha, Tejas Kothari, and herself, will be performing live in Rajkot along with her band members. They spent months rehearsing for these 10 days of performances.

She said, “Usually during Navratri, we are always on stage, so we don’t get the opportunity to play Garba, but we definitely do traditional steps on stage. Navratri plays a big role in our lives; it brings us immense happiness and a spiritual vibe. The aura of Navratri is completely different from what we experience the rest of the year, so we are super excited and thrilled to perform during this festival.”

“We wait all year to perform at Navratri. We’ve been preparing for months to be on stage during these 10 days. There is also a ritual of bringing Garba home, performing Mataji's aarti, and singing five Garba songs. During Dussehra, we have Nivedh jaman, where our whole family cooks together and eats as prasad,” she added.

This will be the band’s second year performing in Rajkot. She feels a special connection with the state and its people, and said, “We have performed in many places across the globe, but Gujarat owns it. It feels incredible to be in Gujarat during Navratri. It’s a beautiful experience altogether—late nights, vibrant colored clothes, and music all around will blow your mind.”

For Arohi, performing live means connecting with the audience as well. She said, “We get to see their reactions, their energy, and their experiences, which truly touch our hearts. We love seeing people dancing happily, smiling, and singing along with us.”