'Raas' over, couples dance to bold tunes of heart
Navratri, a blend of garba, pulsating music and good food, has lost its traditional flavour to sex-starved Gen-X of Amdavadis.
88% of young Amdavadis polled by DNA admitted that for them, the festival is an uninhibited exploration of sensuality. But thankfully, most respondents in the 15-30 years age group were aware of HIV and other perils.
AHMEDABAD: Navratri, a blend of garba, pulsating music and good food, has lost its traditional flavour to sex-starved Gen-X of Amdavadis. And a poll conducted by DNA confirms that for 88% of young Amdavadis, the nine-night festival has turned into a carnival of abandoned inhibitions and experiments with sexuality.
According to the dip-stick survey, peer support and a general relaxation in parental monitoring are the two main factors why teens and adults between the age group of 15 to 20 years of age easily tend to dance out of the venue and slip into performing mating rituals during the festival.
Therefore, it comes as no surprise why the state health department records unusually high abortion rates every December. Most of the poll’s respondents between the ages of 15 to 30 years were aware of Aids, STDs and the use of multiple contraceptives. While men preferred to use condoms, women opted for the pill.
The responses also showed that while men were open to sleeping with multiple partners, women said that they would limit their experiment to only one man.
There used to be a time when people danced to the drum beats of the dandiya-raas to honour Goddess Durga, till the wee hours of the morning. But now, the essence of the festival changes after midnight. Nearly 84% of those interviewed said Navratri was the time for them to enjoy and indulge in the sort of fun that was normally impossible for them to hope for. This especially holds true for women, who are usually not allowed to stay out late. It is this leeway that gives women the opportunity to act get bold.
Varsha Ganguly, an Ahmedabad-based sociologist, who has been tracking the trend for the past few years, said, “Navratri is the best excuse for young people to explore sex because it allows get-togethers with friends during the nights.”
The DNA survey has also presented some interesting personal insights.
Sameer Patker, a 26-year-old software professional, acknowledges that the festival provides an opportunity to meet new people. Since people are less inhibited these days, causal encounters often lead to sex, said Patker.
Consulting sexologist and infertility specialist Dr Paras Shah said,“Youth between the ages of 13 and 18 years are at a stage where they experience hormonal changes that generate curiosity about the opposite sex. This encourages them to indulge in first-time sexual encounters.”
Moreover, the revealing dresses, lack of deadlines and the electrifying atmosphere, all contribute in encouraging sexual encounters, said Dr Shah.
When asked if they have had encounters with multiple partners, many men rued the fact that they have not had the chance to, but they would not let go if given an opportunity. Women, however, said they would never cheat on their partner.
However, the survey also brought out a heartening aspect. At least 99% of those surveyed said they were aware of sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV and ensured that they used some form of protection. The easy availability of pills and condoms has also made life more convenient. While most men said they preferred to use condoms, but to avoid any embarrassing situation, they insist that their partners take the contraceptive pill.
Commercialisation of medical practitioners also contributes to the dilemma, said Ganguly. “Abortions done on the sly have serious repercussions on the girls’ health in the long run. If these activities are brought to people’s notice, the rate of people indulging in such activities can be curbed,”Ganguly added.
The venue to indulge in such immoral acts can range from homes and farmhouses which top the list to secluded highways, friends’ places and one’s car.
Hotels, however, seemed to have gone off the Amdavadis radar.“Hotels are unsafe during Navratri as one has to reveal his or her identity. Moreover, there is a risk involved as such places are either under police scrutiny or infamous for shooting blue films, be it a shady hotel or a posh one,” said Priyanka Panchal, a 22-year-old student.
(Names have been changed to protect identity.)
AHMEDABAD: Navratri, a blend of garba, pulsating music and good food, has lost its traditional flavour to sex-starved Gen-X of Amdavadis. And a poll conducted by DNA confirms that for 88% of young Amdavadis, the nine-night festival has turned into a carnival of abandoned inhibitions and experiments with sexuality.
According to the dip-stick survey, peer support and a general relaxation in parental monitoring are the two main factors why teens and adults between the age group of 15 to 20 years of age easily tend to dance out of the venue and slip into performing mating rituals during the festival.
Therefore, it comes as no surprise why the state health department records unusually high abortion rates every December. Most of the poll’s respondents between the ages of 15 to 30 years were aware of Aids, STDs and the use of multiple contraceptives. While men preferred to use condoms, women opted for the pill.
The responses also showed that while men were open to sleeping with multiple partners, women said that they would limit their experiment to only one man.
There used to be a time when people danced to the drum beats of the dandiya-raas to honour Goddess Durga, till the wee hours of the morning. But now, the essence of the festival changes after midnight. Nearly 84% of those interviewed said Navratri was the time for them to enjoy and indulge in the sort of fun that was normally impossible for them to hope for. This especially holds true for women, who are usually not allowed to stay out late. It is this leeway that gives women the opportunity to act get bold.
Varsha Ganguly, an Ahmedabad-based sociologist, who has been tracking the trend for the past few years, said, “Navratri is the best excuse for young people to explore sex because it allows get-togethers with friends during the nights.”
The DNA survey has also presented some interesting personal insights.
Sameer Patker, a 26-year-old software professional, acknowledges that the festival provides an opportunity to meet new people. Since people are less inhibited these days, causal encounters often lead to sex, said Patker.
Consulting sexologist and infertility specialist Dr Paras Shah said,“Youth between the ages of 13 and 18 years are at a stage where they experience hormonal changes that generate curiosity about the opposite sex. This encourages them to indulge in first-time sexual encounters.”
Moreover, the revealing dresses, lack of deadlines and the electrifying atmosphere, all contribute in encouraging sexual encounters, said Dr Shah.
When asked if they have had encounters with multiple partners, many men rued the fact that they have not had the chance to, but they would not let go if given an opportunity. Women, however, said they would never cheat on their partner.
However, the survey also brought out a heartening aspect. At least 99% of those surveyed said they were aware of sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV and ensured that they used some form of protection. The easy availability of pills and condoms has also made life more convenient. While most men said they preferred to use condoms, but to avoid any embarrassing situation, they insist that their partners take the contraceptive pill.
Commercialisation of medical practitioners also contributes to the dilemma, said Ganguly. “Abortions done on the sly have serious repercussions on the girls’ health in the long run. If these activities are brought to people’s notice, the rate of people indulging in such activities can be curbed,”Ganguly added.
The venue to indulge in such immoral acts can range from homes and farmhouses which top the list to secluded highways, friends’ places and one’s car.
Hotels, however, seemed to have gone off the Amdavadis radar.“Hotels are unsafe during Navratri as one has to reveal his or her identity. Moreover, there is a risk involved as such places are either under police scrutiny or infamous for shooting blue films, be it a shady hotel or a posh one,” said Priyanka Panchal, a 22-year-old student.
(Names have been changed to protect identity.)