music
Gujarat Music
Gujarat is a state of
music lovers and has produced some of the best musicians of India. It is said
that the legendary musicians Baiju Bawra and Tana Riri belong to the state
itself. Narsinh Mehta, of the 'Vaishnav Janto' acclaim, also hails from
Gujarat. He was a Vaishnavite poet of Junagadh and wrote songs in the praise of
the Lord. His Gujarati compositions had a profound influence on the devotees.
It is believed that he came in communion with Lord Krishna when he sung 'Raag
Kedar'. 'Vaishnav Janto' was very dear to Gandhiji also and remains a musical
marvel till date.
Besides, Gujar Tod, Bilaval and Khambhavati are the names associated with
Gujarat. Veraval and Cambay are also state's contributions to classical music.
Musicians like Ustad Faiyazkhan, Maulabux, the 'Been' player Rahim Khan and
many others have shone the name of the state in the field of music. Apart from
this, Pandit Omkarnath Thakur, one of the greatest exponents of Indian
classical music, is also from Gujarat. Dahyalal Shivram's Sangeet Kaladhar and
Adityaram Vyas's Sangeetaditya have also made significant contributions to
Gujarati music.
Ahmedabad is also significantly touched by the musical wave. A number of
concerts are organized in the city to promote folk music of Gujarat, among the
masses. One of the major musical events is organized here by a local financial
institution. It is a three day festival, devoted truly to classical music. The
festival is attended by an astounding number of people, who listen to the
Hindustani classical ragas, amidst congenial ambience. A traditional setting is
created in an open theatre where listeners sit in a 'baithak' style and enjoy
classical ragas.
The concert is known as "Sur Sandhaya Samaroh" and is one of its
kinds in Ahmedabad. It is held on a regular basis, providing a platform for the
people to interact with the maestros like Bhimsen Joshi, Pandit Shivkumar
Sharma and the charismatic Zakir Hussain. The concert continues till midnight
and is conducted on a massive scale, wherein all the modern facilities are
provided for ensuring the closest rendezvous of the artists with the audience.
Such events have broken the myth that the people of Gujarat are more concerned
with wealth making and do not have an ear for music.
| art
Arts & Crafts of Gujarat
¤ Embroidery In Gujarat
Gujarat’s contemporary indigenous dress is a cultural manifestation that has
evolved over centuries and has remained a principal mark of identity and social
cohesion. While dress is indicative of social difference, it is also one of the
first indicators of identity that disappears in the process of cultural
assimilation and racial mingling.
¤ Kutch's World Renowned Work
The best pick up point for ethnic embroidery in Gujarat is Kutch, which was
once a part of the trade route between Central Asia and the Far East. Given
Gujarat’s coastline and numerous harbours, it exposed the land to the outside
world. Some of the best and oldest textiles were created in Gujarat and they
were in great demand in other parts of Asia. Old Kutchis still recount romantic
tales of caravans laden with silk, pearls, carpets, etc. traversing the Rann to
reach the port cities. Influences and impact of the outside world had its
effect on embroidery as well.As in all desert and semi-desert regions, life
here is varied, there is little to celebrate but for the women of Kutch who
weave a magical world of colour and celebrate everyday life. Elements and
traces of Baluch or Sindhi embroidery merging with those of the Kutch are well
established. Marco Polo, writing about Gujarat, says “They also work here
beautiful mats in red and blue leather, exquisitely inlaid with figures of bird
and beasts and skillfully embroidered with gold and silver wire. They are
marvelously beautiful things, they are used by the Saracens to sleep upon.”
¤ Diverse Variety of Embroidery
Embroidery, in Gujarat, is akin to ritual decoration and can be found
everywhere. Toran is the most common embroidered doorway decoration with
hanging flaps, which is supposed to ventilate good luck. Pachhitpatis
(embroidered frieze) are hanged from the corners as a welcome symbol to the
visitors. Chaklas (embroidered square pieces) are used as furniture covers
while Bhitiya is the impressive wall hanging.Abhala (mirror inset embroidery)
has now become a part of the ethnic chic fashion world, where small mirror
discs are fixed with closely worked silken thread. Usually the mirror work is
done on a dark background with motifs like flowers, creepers, petals, etc. The
motifs are inspired by daily life; ancient belief and rituals but they vary
from place to place and are passed down over the centuries from mother to
daughter.
¤ Embroidery- An Inherit Talent
It is not an unusual site in Kutch to find young girls, their mother and even
grandmother sitting together to create the best of cholis (bodices), gaghras
(skirts), odhnis (shawls), bed spreads, bags, wall hanging and a variety of
ornamental pieces for home decor.
Until recently long hours were spent to create the best in embroidery for
personal use but today things are a bit organised and slightly speedier in
order to cater to the needs of the tourists as well. At a very early age the
girls acquire the embroidery skills, honed by generations and with pride and
patience they prepare their own wedding garments.These exclusively created
embroidered works are sent to the in-laws for closer examination, which is one
of the important criteria for deciding matrimonial alliances.
¤ Distinctive Style of Needlework
Each community in Kutch has its own distinctive style of needlework. Geometric
patterns of Sauf embroidery by the Sodha community appear to be the earliest
extension of Iranian Baluchistan influence. The time consuming needlework
involves stitches on the base by counting every single thread that imparts a
uniform balanced look as if the design was woven on cloth. Sodha Rajputs, who
migrated from Pakistan during the 1971 Indo-Pak war, are scattered around the
village of Sumerasar and border area of Banaskantha.
¤ The Ancient- Ari Embroidery
Ari Embroidery is equally old and famous for its heavy work. Prepared with the
help of an awl it represents a cobbler’s stitch, which requires considerable
skill and practice. The sharper and finer the hook of the awl, the more refined
the quality of the embroidery. This is done in silk or locally made satin
called Gajji or on a silky satin fabric Atlash. The royal ladies of Kutch who
were fascinated by the Persian motifs like peacock and flowers patronized Ari
embroidery.The garments under the spell of Ari embroidery are usually dotted
with bootis (motifs), which round off with big sized ones known as Nadir Shahi
booti.
¤ Rabari Embroidery
Rabari Embroidery is the most prominent work and widely available. The women of
this community wear black skirts with creative edges embroidered and so are
their profusely decorated veils with tie and dye patterns. A Rabari
bridegroom’s embroidered longcoat is worth a look. Even children wear heavily
embroidered salwars and shirts. The Kutchi Rabaris make use of mirrors of
various shapes and sizes and therefore their works have a variety though they
stick to minute chain stitches.
The finest embroidery with most intricate patterns created by the needle comes
from Mutwa and Jat communities. The Mutwas, living in Banni, excel in all
styles of embroidery and they work out the tiny mirrors with ease. Fine
handspun cotton and quality silk is used in red, white, golden yellow, blue and
black to develop patterns and booties interspersed with bird and animal motifs.
The Jats, who migrated from Baluchistan, are experts in inserting the smallest
of the mirrors with utmost perfection, amidst pleasing colours and design that
are usually geometric patterns. The Jats are confined to Dhordo, border
villages of Sherwa and Savada. Few of the Jat families also dwell at Naranpar:
(17kms from Bhuj en route to Kera).
The ladies from Lohana community in Banni create fantasy with silk thread
thickly piled in deep orange, golden yellow, dark red and bright black. The
bootis are inset with mirrors, making use of chain stitch, buttonhole stitch,
etc.
¤ Applique or Katab
Applique or Katab is another form of decorative needlework, more pronounced in
Saurashtra where women from the darzi (tailor) community prepare it for
commercial use. Its origin relates to a tailor’s wife who saved the cloth
remnants in the shop, which finally created quilt covers, and other
decorations. After all, in the land of scarcity nothing should go waste. Unlike
the Pipli works of Orissa, here it is done in patchwork based on pieces of
coloured and patterned fabric, which is finely cut to serve the motif and then
stitched on to a plain background to produce quilts, curtains and wall
hangings. Patchwork quilts from Kutch are worked upon by neat running stitches
and are quite popular with tourists. The higher the pile of quilts, the higher
the owner’s status for it is an indicator to the owner’s status which
establishes his ability to accommodate the number of guests simultaneously.
¤ The Creation of Animal Decorations
Next to garments and home decors, a variety of decorations are created for the
bullock, horses, camels and palanquins.Shingadiyas (horn covers), lalavati
(forehead covers), jhul (saddles), body hangings and kandia (neck ornaments)
for bullocks and camels are most popular. At one time the finesse of the
palanquin decoration demonstrated the power and wealth of the owner. Leather
embroidery is later addition in the long list of marketable craft, being
discounted earlier as the produce from lower caste. Now embroidered jootis
(shoes) of Banaskantha are quite popular along with a variety of leather
products including bedspreads!
| dance
Garbha Dance
A graceful, rather unique dance associated with
the raas lila of Krishna and the gopis (female cowherds). This is danced by
both men and women, moving in a circle holding and clicking painted sticks with
attached bells. These are the famous dandiya sticks and have led to Garbha
being referred to as dandiya raas. Formerly associated with the legend of
Krishna, Garbha is now a regular feature during the Navratri puja (nine nights
in honor and worship of the goddess Durga).
Dandiya Dance
Ideally, two circles formed by men and women move
in clockwise and anti-clockwise directions with two sticks called dandiyas held
in their hands. The song sung on the occasion is essentially an amorous one.
Raas is a very energetic, colourful and playful dance providing opportunity for
acting and exchanging messages through eye contact. It is no wonder that many
romances bloom during Navaratri and hence the popularity of the dance among the
younger generation.
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