The increasing number of swine flu cases in India is making the NRI community wary of coming home this holiday season. Most Gujarati families settled abroad make a trip to India to celebrate Navratri but this time around things are very different.
The Desais lost their son Kaushik recently, but they had to stop their daughter from visiting India to attend the funeral ceremony. The family did not want California-based Bhawna to brave the swine flu and come home.
The Desais webcast the funeral ceremony of their son who died of a heart attack on Sunday.
"We had promised her that we would show her the webcast of whatever rituals we perform," said the family.
In another part of Ahmedabad it's reunion time for the Joshis. Sonal's brother is coming from the US after 10 years to celebrate Navratri. A joy now mixed with apprehension.
"We had told him to delay his visit. But he said, every year something or the other comes up, so he won't cancel the trip," says Sonal.
Another member of the family says, "Since he wants to come, we have told him to go for a medical check-up before he lands."
There are about 15 lakh Gujaratis based in the US and 7 lakh in the United Kingdom. A big chunk of this population visits Gujarat during the Navratri festival.
Many say they have issued advisories urging their relatives not to visit this season. And if a visit is unavoidable, they should get undergo medical examination before entering the state.
