GAVRI

Gavri is celebrated in a dance-drama form lasting for forty days during the rainy season. It is essentially a ritual activity with a strong sacred content. This story centres around the deities Shankar & Parvati. The ritual commences on the day following Raksha Bandhan when sowing has been completed and the crops almost begin to sprout. It is an ideal season, with no work in the field, to worship various gods and goddesses which form the sacred pantheon of Gavri. This year the celebration will begin from 20th august. On behalf of villagers, the village Bhopa (Priest) seeks permission from the goddess for holding the festival. Generally, a village gets permission once in three or four years. Once the goddess blesses the devotees through the Bhopa (by way of sending him into a trance) to go ahead with the celebrations, the Gavri preparations commence. The invoking of the deity is a feature of the initial and the concluding ceremonies for the entire period. The activities on the particular day start with the fixing of the Trichul (trident) in the central part of the village. The deity is seated at that spot with incantations and incense is offered by the Bhil Bhopas. These initial rituals mark the preparatory parts for the more popular items to follow. The items presented are plays and skits based on mythological and historical events and community life, the actors playing the different roles. The folk dance drama is performed in the open air without the stage. The final ceremony of the festival requires a clay elephant which is supplied by local potters. The closing ceremony of Gavri is performed on first Navmi of Ashwini month. The clay elephant on which Mata Parvati is seated is given the farewell (Balawaan) by immersing it into the water. The Gavri party goes around performing from village to village, which is related through affinal ties and connected through business and ritual exchanges. The festival is a testimony of social solidarity that exists between the Bills and other people inhabiting these villages. The performances are very captivating and watched both by tourists and local populace with equal enthusiasm and intrigue.