Incredible tribe’s Holi festival of Gujarat: Indian Art and Cultural Documentation

Project by : IIPian kandarp Solanki

Tribe’s Holi festival of Gujarat

Location: Dang District of Gujarat

India celebrates countless festivals in its calendar throughout the year and Holi is one of the major festivals for Hindus. India is a land that represents the blending of beliefs, diversities and cultural celebrations we call “festivals”. According to Hindu mythology, Holi is a festival cherished through colors that symbolize the power of love and the victory of good over evil. 

Holi is one of the biggest festivals in our country which comes every year during March. The festival of Holi marks the beginning of spring every year and adds happiness to the lives of people.

Incredible Tribe’s Holi festival of Gujarat

The festival of Holi celebrated by the tribes in the Dang District of Gujarat in which Bhil, Varli, Kunbi or Kotwaliya tribe communities takes part to celebrate Holi festival. This traditional Holi festival celebrated for seven days, in which Holi is lit every day in any one village and nearby villagers also participates in Holi.

According to the tribe’s rituals, those who take a vow is, Till then do not stay in the house and do not have any food and do not even have to meet the family members. Until the festival of Holi is over .

Those who believe in vows are called “Gheraiya” and they Wearing their own traditional outfits and jewelry & Whichever village may Holi worshiped Gheraiyas Go there and Have to worship And after enjoy Holi celebration all night long.

If we talk about the entire process of their Holi:

First of all, around 10 to 15 villagers go to the forest and cut the longest bamboo also bring them and at that time there is also a drummer with them. after that bringing the bamboo & keep it in the village square where the Holi is lit. Then every night from every village Gheraiya’s group comes and they performing their traditional dance all night and there is a ritual while they perform the traditional dance they drinking a traditional drink which is called “Mahuda”. Mahuda is a type of alcohol which is a homemade drink .

As it is very early in the morning, all the Gheriya worship Holi first and fulfill your vow After that Holi is lit And all the circles surround it (परिक्रमा) and after when the bamboo’s bottom part burn down completely in the fire, then some Gheriyas Stand to catch the bamboo and most importantly is bamboo Don’t let fall down. Later people cut the remaining bamboo and take it to their home and worship bamboo throughout the year.

In every village where Holi is celebrated, a small fair is also organized and all the villagers also come to see traditional dances there. When the festival of Holi comes to an end, people use the ashes of Holi for tilak because ash is also considered very pious. After all the rituals of Holi are over, all the Gehriya go to the village and take fairing from every house in the village.

• Festivals represent the spirit of Indian culture and society
• Represents people from diverse background, regions, communities and religion.

Holi is one of the major festivals of India. it may be celebrated with various names and people might be following different tradition but the spirit of it remains the same.

Photos with a post are originally clicked by IIPian  kandarp Solanki in their own home town in Gujarat