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May 2, 2007
The Full Flower Moon. Abu’s hillsides are in full bloom. Out here in India,
it’s called “Buddha Purnima”. The
full moon this year fell on May 2, 2007; it commemorates the
birth anniversary of Lord Buddha. On special days, many people go to Indian holy places to ask the gods for their favour. What fascinates me is the large number of "Garasias" who come to my hometown.
These Garasias throng to Abu by the
hundreds and that too on foot, they hoof
it all the way up from villages all over Rajasthan. They come
in enormous groups singing and dancing in their local dialect till
they amass around the famous Nakki Lake at Abu, their final
destination.
For the Garasias, "Buddha Purnima" is an important day as they decided on marriages on this day. The Garasias pay the bride's "price" to her father after elopement.
Should this agreement not work out, the girl returns home with her
father, who receives some money for the inconvenience caused.
The Garasias, legend has it is
descendants of the Rajput tribe of the Chauhans. Apparently, the
Chauhans, after being defeated in a battle aeons ago, fled and mingled
with the local Bhil tribe to form a
distinctive group. The tribal population of Garasias are concentrated
around the hills of Abu and the KOTRA region of Udaipur.
The Garasias have a Bhil culture with bows and arrows for hunting and self-defence. I Still fail
to understand how they have a higher status than the native Bhil.
Perhaps there is some truth in the legend of the Garasias
origin (the fallen Rajputs)
The zest for the life of these people left an impression on me. I’m posting a few snaps of these fun-loving folks, Happy viewing.
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| "Garasias" who come to my hometown. |
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| "Garasias" who come to my hometown, during Buddha Purnima" |
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| Garasias throng to Nakki Lake |
