Akash Parekh, a Class VIII student, says he comes to dance on nights before a school holiday. Last Saturday, he was selected as one of the three best dancers at the event.

Every night the organisers announce the names of the winners who will participate in the mega final on Saturday, October 4, the concluding day of the event. Many dancers say they do not practice and just follow the beats.

Kamini Vadhera, a housewife accompanying her schoolgoing children, takes the kids to different dandiya venues.

"We spend two nights at each pandal," says Vadhera who takes great pride in the steel dandiya sticks she bought last year.

There are always novel designs each year. Among the costumes that night, the boy wearing headgear and jacket with CDs embroidered in mirror work was the one who stood out. He made a rather late entry though -- just 15 minutes before deadline.