textiles from the 'kutch' region (india)

a peek at tribal textiles from 'kutch'

this area in gujarat, a state in western india borders pakistan and is home to over a dozen different gypsy/nomad tribes of varying origins (including one that has migrated from baluchistan)

and they all produce beautiful textile work, as i have recently discovered. although in the beginning the work looks similar, a closer look reveals the distinctive signature of each tribe.

they weave, tie&dye and embroider to create their art.

i've had some pieces for awhile, but a recent event, made me go a bit crazy and now there are many more in my cupboard that i am trying to understand. and i have gone nuts enuff to book a trip to the region next week. am planning to live with the rabari gypsies and am hoping ambitiously, to come back with a complete understanding about the region's textile art, its history and its people !

a "starter pack" of pictures of some of the pieces :







several tribes use mirrors - and sometimes large mirrors set in metal. the embroidery used here is a good neat example of the work of this type. the hanging triangles are made of 'mashru' material which is unique to this region.





this is probably a head gear that helps support the earthen or metal pot on the head. the tail piece seems to have some purpose i hope to discover soon. the camel wool tassels have natural dyes.









this is a head scarf - with embroidery on a square piece that has been tied and dyed first. each corner has a different design, and small cowries are real.





this blanket uses undyed sheep wool. created in two longitudinal parts and then stitched together. the weaver explained that this is because their looms are small (? - will find out why). this is the only piece of the set that i have posted, which is new.







this is a bridal veil for one of the tribes. also made in two longitudinal parts. first tie-dyed separately - then stitched together and then embroidered. the mismatch between the tie-dyed parts is visible.sometimes there also is a deliberate attempt to sabotage perfection in the embroidery - to 'avert the evil eye' called the 'nazarbattu' seen in pic1 on the left bottom. a third dimension is seen in this ludi - with a stuffed square pyramid on each flower (pic 3 which is not of the same ludi as in pic 1 and 2).

there's lots more .... but am not sure if there is interest enuff on this forum- so i shall rest for now !

jaina mishra
mumbai, india

Food Of Gujarat

The food served in the South of Gujarat is influenced by the cuisine of Maharashtra. In South Gujarat, people usually consume Jowar, whereas in Saurashtra and North Gujarat, the diet consists mainly of Bajra and Maize. In Baroda, you will find a blend of all tastes due to its location. In earlier times, wheat was consumed only by the elite and by the middle class during the festive season. With changing time, things have changed. Today, wheat forms an integral part of the Gujarati platter and is used in a number of ways.

Gulab Jamun

Jalebi

Kachori

Pav Bhaji

Bhajias (Pakoras)

Sweets

• Basundi
• Doodh Pak
• Gajar Halwa
• Gulab Jambu
• Jalebi
• Ladoo
• Puran Puri
• Shrikhand
• Mohan Thal
• Magas
• Barfi
• Gari
• Sutarfeni
• Kaju Katri

Snacks

• Bhajias/Pakoras
• Pav Bhaji Recipe here: http://mitholimdo.wordpress.com/category/recipe-by-name/pav-bhaji/
• Chana Dal Wada
• Kutchi Dabeli
• Dal Wada
• Dhokla
• Farsi Puri
• Ganthias
• Handvo Recipe here: http://mitholimdo.wordpress.com/category/recipe-by-name/handvo/
• Kachori
• Khandvi Recipe here: http://mitholimdo.wordpress.com/category/recipe-by-name/khandvi/
• Muthias
• Sev-Usual
• Bhel
• Pani Puri
• Fafda
• Chevdo
• Bhakharvadi
• Chavanu
• Jain Chevdo
• Patra
• Gatha

Pulses (Dals)Kadhi

• Mixed Dal
• Moong Dal
• Plain Dal
• Tuver Dal
• Udad Dal
• Kadhi
• Dhal Dhokli

Vegetables

• Batata Suki Bhaji
• Cabbage Peas
• Cauliflower-Green Peas
• Methi Mutter
• Okra
• Sev-Tomatoes
• Undhiyu

Gujarati Wedding Ceremony

HINDU WEDDING
Marriage is a highly auspicious occasion in the Indian culture. According to the Vedas, the Hindu scriptures, marriage is a sacred life long commitment between a man and a woman. It is considered to be the strongest of all social bonds and is the initiation into a lifetime of togetherness. The Vedic wedding ceremony consists of prayers, invocations, and vows recited in Sanskrit, the most ancient surviving language. The Vedic wedding ceremony dates back to over five thousand years. The ceremony is performed under a decorated canopy, the Mandap. The four pillars that surround the madap represent the four parents. This signifies the important part they have played in raising their children to become the responsible adults they are today. The ceremony is performed before a sacred fire, or Agni, which is the eternal witness of the marriage and all vows taken.
HINDU WEDDING CEREMONY
Baraat (Wedding Procession) The original form of a baraat is a procession from the groom's house to the bride's house for the wedding ceremony. The joyous wedding day begins with the Mangal Vadya, the playing of Shehnai (a traditional wind instrument) and Dhol (Indian drum). Swagatam (Welcoming of the Groom and his Family) The groom and his family are greeted at the doors of the Mandir (Temple) by the bride's parents and family. The mother of the bride then greets and welcomes the groom and his family into her own family. She blesses the groom by placing a tilak (red dot) on his forehead. The groom is then led to the mandap where the wedding ceremony will take place.
Ganesh Puja (The worship of Lord Ganesh) Every Hindu ceremony begins with the worship of Lord Ganesh, deity of peace and wisdom. This is done so people can find strength within themselves to remove any obstacles that may arise. Madhuparka (Welcoming the Groom) While the groom is sitting under the mandap the Madhuparka is performed where his feet are washed by the bride's parents. He is then offered Panchamrut, a liquid composed of milk, yogurt, ghee, honey, and sugar.
Kanya Daan (Giving away of the daughter) The bride accepts her change of status from an unmarried woman to a wife by spreading turmeric powder on her hands. Kanya Daan is performed by the father (or uncle of guardian) of the bride in presence of a large gathering that is invited to witness the wedding.
Vivaaha (Wedding) The bride and the groom face each other, and the priest ties their garments (the bride's saree to the groom's shirt) in a knot, symbolizing the sacred union. The bride and the groom garland each other and exchange the rings. Next the nuptial fire, symbolizing the divine witness, and the sanctifier of the sacrament, is installed and worshipped.
Both the bride and the groom grasp their hands together and pray to God for His blessings. Samagree, consisting of crushed sandalwood, herbs, sugar, rice, ghee (clarified butter), and twigs is offered into the sacred fire to seek God's blessings for the couple.
Mangal Phera (The Circumambulation of the Sacred Fire) The groom holds the bride by the hand and both walk three times around the sacred fire. Both offer oblations and recite appropriate Vedic hymns to Gods for prosperity, good fortune, and conjugal fidelity. They touch each others heart and pray for union of their hearts and minds.
Saptapadi (Seven Sacred Steps - Oaths) This is the most important rite of the entire ceremony. Here the bride and the groom take seven steps together around the sacred fire (Agni) and make the following seven promises to each other: As per the Vedic rituals, the groom sings "With God as our guide, let us take":
1. The first step to nourish each other
2. The second step to grow together in strength
3. The third step to preserve our wealth
4. The fourth step to share our joys and sorrows
5. The fifth step to care for our children
6. The sixth step to be together forever
7. The seventh step to remain lifelong friends
8. The perfect halves to make a perfect whole!
The Satapadi ceremony concludes with a prayer that the union is indissoluble. At the end of this ceremony, the groom and the bride become husband and wife.
Mangal Sutra The Mangal Sutra Dharana is the tying of the thread containing the marks of the Vishnu or Shiva on the neck of the bride by the groom.
Suhaag or Sindhoordana The groom places sindoor (red powder) on the bride's hair symbolizing her as a married woman.
Aashirvaad (Blessing) The groom's parents bless the couple and offer clothes or flower to the bride, symbolizing her joining the groom's family. All those assembled at the ceremony shower flowers on the couple and bless them completing the marriage.

The Kutch Museum

If you are touring the Kutch region of Gujarat (India), then the Kutch Museum at Bhuj town is a must-see spot for you. In addition to being the oldest museum of Gujarat and one of the oldest in India, this museum is a repository of Indian and Kutchi arts, crafts, culture and history of this region.
Silver and Gold Work:
Goldsmiths of Kutch were renowned for their enamel and filigree work on silver and gold ornaments and articles. Exquisite pieces of this workmanship include brooches, necklaces, rings, trays, silver fans, biscuit boxes and other table items. Another speciality of this region is penknife and lock industry. Innovative pieces of this craft are also on display in the museum.
Arts and Crafts:
Tie-and-dye (Bandhani) work is one of the main attractions for tourists to this region. Going back to hundreds of years, this craft is alive and thriving even today. with a number of award-winning craftsmen engaged in this craftsmanship. The museum has a great number of eye-catching peices depicting this art. Another textile art called "rogan" work where textiles were painted with indelible colored designs is becoming rare now. Once a thriving industry, there is only one craftsman engaged in this work now. However, in this section that you can see a number of samples of this exquisite art.
Weaponry:
In addition to some quaint pieces of weaponry in use in old days, this section has a cannon gifted by Tipu Sultan to Kutch rulers. At first glance, this cannon would seem quite ordinary but the story behind its coming to this region from a far off place would surely interest the history buffs. It is believed that Tipu Sultan of Mysore was looking for allies to fight against the Britishers and had sent this gift to the rulers of this region to rope in their support for his endeavors. It is not known whether anything came off this move from Tipu Sultan but the local rulers did use this cannon in their local wars and skirmishes.
Coins:
Kutch was one of the few princely states in India to have its own coins and you can see most of the silver and gold coins of this region from the time of Mughals down to the British era up to the time when India became independent. One interesting coin in this section is the one with the name of King Edward VIII who abdicated the British throne. Edward's reign was so short that the Britishers did not get around to putting him on their own coins. But the Kutch region did. Naturally this coin has become a rarity for coin-collectors.
These are but a few notable sections of this museum which has many other attractions like paintings and stone inscriptions which are the signposts of this region's cultural and historical heritage. All in all this Museum is a worth a visit if you happen to be in this part of India.

The Peoples of Kutch

Kutch has been a significant confluence point for different races and people. The nomadic pastoralists are certainly the most interesting and their links can be traced on one side to Marwar and Mewar (regions of Rajasthan), Saurashtra and, on the other side, Sindh and beyond to Afghanisthan, Iran and Central Asia.       The great Rabari group is spread over the western plains of India from Kutch to Rajasthan. They are Hindu cattle-breeders and shepherds, falling into three endogamous groups - those of Kutch, Rajasthan and Central Gujarat.
There are further sub-divisions according to region like the Garasia, Kachela, Dhebaria and Wagadia of Kutch. Rabaries worship the mother goddess, Ramdev Pir, horsemen heroes and the sainted dead. In Kutch, after the monsoon rains and their year's wanderings, they celebrate all marriages on one day only, that of Gokul Ashtami, the birthday of Lord Krishna.
The other main group of pastoralists consists of two dozen nomadic and semi-nomadic Muslim groups who trace their roots from Sindh and beyond. The Jath are the largest such group. The others are smaller and live in Banni area, a low-lying, sixteen hundred square kilometers pastureland close to the salt marshes of the Great Rann of Kutch, and also in the surrounding areas. The main clans are the Halipotra, Raisipotra, Mutwa, Node, Hingorjah, Bhambha, Cher, Junejah, Kaskalee, Korar, Ladai, Nunai, Pathan, Baluch, Samejah, Sumra and Tabah. The Dhanetah section of the Jath are also in the Banni. They keep mainly cattle, no goats, and are settled around nearly fifty water-holes on the Banni. The Jaths are a nomadic community spread over Kutch. They appear to have started their migration to this area, from Sindh, some four hundred years ago. Their main groups are Dhanetah, Fakirani and Garasia. The Garasia Jaths live mainly in the Nakhatrana region of Kutch. There is a sprinkling of Bharwads also in Kutch, and they have spilled over from their home region in Kathiawar. There is a great concentration of Ahirs in Kutch. In and around Pacham are the Sammas. An interesting community is that of the Sodha Rajputs, some of whom have been settled in Kutch in the recent past only, after coming from Pakistan. In other castled villages tribals like the Koli mingle with the normal population mix of Patels, Jadejas, Rajputs, Bhatias, Kayasths, Lohanas, Gosains, Gadhvis, Kapdis, Jains, Brahamans, Jogis, Banias, Bairagis, Sanghars, Bhanushalis, Bhadalas Syeds, Shaikhs, Pathans, Khojas, Memans, Miyanas, Sammas, Kharvas and Toris. And intermingling with them are the service groups and craftsmen.

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Latcho Drom [VHS]

This majestic, French-made film wishes viewers a "latcho drom"--a safe journey--as it follows the roots of the Rom, traveling people better known as Gypsies. Stunning and evocative, it transcends language and culture, bringing together the best elements of National Geographic-style documentary and music video in a kind of anthropological MTV. Using only music and image, without any steady characters or plot, award-winning director Tony Gatlif (himself of Rom descent) tells a compelling story of Rom migrations from Northern India to Europe and the rest of the world. Beginning with a gathering of lavishly dressed nomads singing across the harsh deserts of Rajasthan, viewers are transported through the lush oases of Egypt into the ghettoes of Turkey, from the muddy lanes of Eastern Europe through lush French fields to the windswept coastal cities of Spain. Every step of the way, there are hypnotic reminders of the harshness and beauty of the Rom lifestyle: the rhythms of labor pounding into vibrant dance, the songs of Turkish flower sellers merging with the plaintive political satires of a gray-haired Romanian violinist. Music is everywhere--children barely able to walk dance alongside great-grandmothers--and covers all styles and subjects--from the wintry strains of an Auschwitz lament to a flamenco devotional in a Spanish shrine to a festive Dixieland number that borrows as much from New Orleans as from northern India. And wordless stories abound, told in the smiles of strangers waiting for a train or in the frowns of rifle-toting farmers come to evict travelers from their land. --Grant Balfour

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The only genealogical & history magazine in the world about the British in India from 1600 to 1947.

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rann of kutch

The Great Rann of Kutch, along with the Little Rann of Kutch and the Banni grasslands on its southern edge, is situated in the district of Kutch and comprises some 30,000 square kilometres (10,000 sq mi) between the Gulf of Kutch and the mouth of the Indus River in southern Pakistan. The marsh can be accessed from the village of Kharaghoda in Surendranagar District.
In India's summer monsoon, the flat desert of salty clay and mudflats, averaging 15 meters above sea level, fills with standing waters, interspersed with sandy islets of thorny scrub, breeding grounds for some of the largest flocks of Greater and Lesser Flamingoes, and is a wildlife sanctuary [7]. At its greatest extent, the Gulf of Kutch on the west and the Gulf of Cambay on the east are both united during the monsoon.
During the flooding wildlife including the Indian Wild Ass shelters on islands of higher ground called bets.
The area was a vast shallows of the Arabian Sea until continuing geological uplift closed off the connection with the sea, creating a vast lake that was still navigable during the time of Alexander the Great. The Ghaggar River, which presently empties into the desert of northern Rajasthan, formerly emptied into the Rann of Kutch, but the lower reaches of the river dried up as its upstream tributaries were captured by the Indus and Ganges thousands of years ago. Traces of the delta and its distributary channels on the northern boundary of the Rann of Kutch were documented by the Geological Survey of India in 2000.
The Luni River, which originates in Rajasthan, drains into the desert in the northeast corner of the Rann and other rivers fedding into the marsh include the Rupen from the east and the West Banas River from the northeast.
This is one of the hottest areas of India.