A ticket-refund dispute has erupted after the air-conditioned garba dome planned at Gopal Farm on Ahmedabad’s Sardar Patel Ring Road collapsed shortly before Navratri, forcing organisers to shift the event outdoors and reduce ticket prices.
According to Gujarat Samachar – Ahmedabad, several attendees had paid advance prices of about ₹2,000 per day for the air-conditioned venue. After the dome became unusable, the organisers announced that garba would begin from the second Navratri day and that the event would be held in an open area, with ticket prices reduced by half.
Attendees who had bought tickets in advance demanded refunds for the difference between the original and revised prices. The report said organisers initially refused to return the money, leading to a disturbance at the venue. Some attendees were reportedly assured that refunds would be provided in an effort to calm the situation.
The dispute also involved online ticket sales. The report said tickets had been listed on an online platform at prices of ₹999, ₹1,399 and ₹2,499. However, attendees alleged that the online prices had not been reduced even after the event was shifted from an air-conditioned dome to an open-ground venue. They accused the organisers of misleading customers.
The change in venue had a direct bearing on what ticket buyers had paid for. The original event was promoted around an air-conditioned dome, while the revised arrangement was to take place outdoors. The report does not state whether the organisers issued a written refund policy, how many tickets were sold, or how many customers were affected.
The incident has also brought attention to crowd management at large garba events in Ahmedabad. The report said organisers are required not to sell more tickets than the declared capacity of a ground. If attendance exceeds the permitted limit, participants may be unable to move or play safely, while overcrowding can increase the risk of a stampede.
According to the report, several organisers allegedly allowed entry beyond the prescribed capacity in an effort to increase revenue. This resulted in disturbances at around seven to eight grounds, where attendees were reportedly unable to participate in the events. The report does not identify all the venues involved or specify whether any enforcement action was taken by civic, police or fire authorities.
The immediate dispute at Gopal Farm therefore combines two operational issues: whether customers who paid for an air-conditioned venue should receive the promised price adjustment after the facility failed, and whether event organisers are maintaining capacity limits while selling tickets. Further clarity is expected from the organisers on refund processing, revised ticket prices and the arrangements for the outdoor event.
