A new pre-Navratri trend is taking off in Ahmedabad: IV drip therapy. Clinics charge between Rs 4,000 and Rs 10,000 per session, and festival packages can go up to Rs 15,000.
Many people hope these drips will give them extra energy for Garba and make their skin look great in photos. However, doctors warn there is little evidence that these drips actually help healthy people.
Navratri 2026 runs from October 11 to October 19, with Dussehra on October 20, so the rush is happening right now. Below, you will find what goes into these drips and what the price really covers. You will also see which risks doctors flag and what to ask a clinic before you book.
What is IV drip therapy, and what goes into a Garba glow drip?
IV drip therapy puts fluids, vitamins and minerals straight into a vein through a thin needle. The nutrients skip the digestive system. Hospitals use IV fluids every day for dehydration, surgery and serious illness.
The wellness version is different. Clinics offer it to healthy people looking for a boost. These drips are made for the benefits they promise, not for a specific medical need.
Reports from Ahmedabad list vitamin C, B-complex vitamins, zinc, magnesium and glutathione among the usual ingredients. Clinics pitch separate formulas for energy, hydration and glow. They also point out that a drip delivers almost the full dose to the bloodstream, which an oral supplement cannot match.
Cleveland Clinic agrees with that part. It adds, however, that high-quality studies on general wellness benefits are still missing.
Why Ahmedabad is booking drips before Navratri
Garba in Ahmedabad is a nine-night marathon. Dancers spend hours on their feet and sleep very little. Many of them still go to work or class the next morning. As a result, demand for a quick fix runs high.
A 24-year-old digital strategist from Prahlad Nagar told PTI that late-night practice made her feel tired and her skin look dull. Her friends suggested she try a glow drip before the festival. The report did not use her real name. A 38-year-old financial consultant from Bodakdev said he used a drip as a one-time boost for the season, not as a regular thing.
The trend also reaches well beyond Gen Z. Reports say working adults in their 30s and 40s are booking sessions too, mainly to cope with late dancing and early meetings. So the “Gen Z trend” label covers only part of the story.
How much does an IV drip cost in Ahmedabad?
Prices depend on the clinic and what is in the drip. The table below shows what reports say and breaks down the cost per session.
| Single session | Rs 4,000 to Rs 10,000 | Depends on the clinic and the formula |
| Three-session package | Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000 | Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000 per session (our calculation) |
| Top festive package in headlines | Up to Rs 15,000 | A multi-session package, not a single drip |
Pay attention to the numbers. The Rs 15,000 mentioned in headlines is the highest price for a package of several sessions, not for one drip. Business Today says three-session packages cost Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000, which means about Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000 per session. This is actually at the lower end of single-session prices.
A package only saves money if you plan to get three drips. If you want just one, you will pay the single-session price.
Keep in mind these prices are from reports, and each clinic sets its own rates. Always ask for the full price in writing and check what is in the drip before you pay.
Does IV drip therapy really give you energy and glowing skin?
For healthy people, there is little proof that it does. The Hans India report notes that scientific evidence for energy or skin benefits in healthy individuals is limited. Cleveland Clinic’s March 2026 explainer says the same about general wellness.
Harvard Health goes further. It says the evidence does not back claims about fatigue, immune health or hangovers, and that IV therapy carries risks of its own.
IV fluids do help when someone is truly dehydrated or deficient. Harvard Health’s Dr Robert Shmerling, quoted by AARP, says IV hydration is valuable for people who really need it. That is a medical need, though, not a festival add-on.
There is another reason to treat personal testimonials with care. Cleveland Clinic points to a small 2009 study in which people with fibromyalgia felt better after IV vitamins. The placebo group improved just as much.
In other words, feeling better after a drip does not prove the vitamins did the work. Rest, attention and the expectation of a boost can all change how you feel.
Fluid, in fact, is the ingredient with the strongest medical case, and you can get it by drinking regularly through the evening. The skin claim is harder to test. Health professionals quoted in The Hans India stress that IV drips are not a magic pill for fitness or a radiant complexion.
What can go wrong with a vitamin drip?
Dr Kinjal Mehta, a dermatologist who practises in Sola, said these infusions are concentrated nutrients. Doctors should use them only after reviewing a patient’s medical history and needs, according to Dr Mehta. The Hans India report lists allergic reactions and fluid overload as possible complications, especially without screening or supervision.
Cleveland Clinic adds a longer list. The table below combines both sources.
| Infection or bruising | Any needle placed in a vein carries this risk, so clean technique matters |
| Vitamin toxicity | Too high a dose can cause nausea or dizziness, and in the worst case heart damage, stroke or death |
| Embolism | A blockage can form in a blood vessel after an injection |
| Allergic reaction | Named by The Hans India as a possible complication |
| Fluid overload | Named by The Hans India; too much fluid can strain the body |
| Medicine interactions | Drip ingredients can interact badly with medicines you already take |
Put in perspective, most healthy people who get a drip from a well-run clinic will probably be fine. AARP’s review notes that drips are low risk for most healthy people. It also says medical experts generally advise against them, mainly because they cost a lot and add little. That is the balanced picture: low risk for many, low reward for most.
However, some people should be more careful. Cleveland Clinic recommends talking to your regular doctor first. It says some people should avoid IV vitamin therapy. They include people being treated for heart disease, high blood pressure or kidney disease and people who are pregnant.
Questions to ask a clinic before you book
Cleveland Clinic warns that hydration clinics and spas are largely unregulated. In the US, the FDA has also raised safety concerns about mixtures made in them.
We did not find an India-specific rulebook for wellness drip clinics in the reports we reviewed. So the checking falls to you. Start with this list:
- Is a registered doctor on site, and will that doctor review my medical history and current medicines first?
- Who prepares the bag, and can you show me exactly what is in it and at what dose?
- Are the needle, tubing and bag new, and will you open them in front of me?
- What is your plan if I react badly, and is emergency equipment on hand?
- Do I need this at all, or would a simple chat with my own doctor be a better first step?
- What exactly does the package price include, and can I stop after one session?
Cleveland Clinic’s specialist offers a rule that is easy to remember: if something looks like a red flag, leave. A clinic that dodges these questions has answered them.
Cheaper ways to last nine nights of Garba
None of this means you must struggle through the festival. The basics work, and Cleveland Clinic’s specialist stresses that a drip cannot replace them or undo poor habits around sleep and nutrition.
- Sip water or an oral rehydration drink through the evening instead of waiting until you feel thirsty.
- Eat a proper meal before you leave for the ground, not just snacks.
- Protect your sleep. A short afternoon nap helps if you dance until late.
- Wear comfortable footwear, and take regular breaks between rounds.
- Remove festival makeup before bed.
These steps cost almost nothing, and they target the real causes of Garba tiredness: long hours, short sleep and too little fluid.
If you are celebrating Garba abroad
Drip bars and hydration clinics operate in many countries, and Garba socials now run in the US, UK, Canada and beyond. The same questions apply wherever you live. The FDA warnings that Cleveland Clinic mentions point the same way. So check who supervises the clinic and who prepares the bag.
When to get medical help
If you feel sick after a drip, do not wait. Get medical help right away if you have a fever, a red or swollen arm, a rash, trouble breathing, dizziness, or a fast heartbeat. Tell your doctor what you received and when. This article is for general information only and is not medical advice.
