Culture of Gujarat
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The Culture of Gujarat is that of Gujarat, India.
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[edit] 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 Danam (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 Danam 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.
Satapadi (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 Mangala 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.
[edit] Gujarati Dances
Dandiya Raas
Dandiya Raas is a very energetic, colorful and playful dance originating in the state of Gujarat. It's roots lay from the days of Lord Krishna who played raas on the shores of Yamuna river on a moonlit night with his beloved Gopis.
Men and women dressed in colorful clothes dance in two concentric circles - one moving clockwise, one moving counter-clockwise. Men and women carry two bamboo sticks called dandiyas in their hands. In addition to footwork, one of the most enjoyable part of this dance is the creative use of dandiyas.
The song sung on the occasion is essentially an amorous one. Raas is a very 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.
Garba
Garba is a very graceful form of dance mainly performed by females in a circular formation, it is in reverences of goddess Ambaji. The basics of the dance are singing and clapping rhythmically while going around the goddess. Today many modifications are prevalent to the basic pattern and even men are free to join in. Women are dressed in exquisitely embroidered, set in mirrors cholis, ghaghras and bandhani dupattas! Extensive jewelry in the form of necklaces, bracelets and anklets are also worn. The typical dress code of men is kehediyu, chudidar and a turban.
Garbi
Originally men use to perform this dance. It was on the way back from a battle that the victorious army would start dancing to couplets and amorous songs sung by the Charanswar, or the narrators who used to go to the front to raise the spirit during the battle by singing songs of valor. The dance was characteristic for its forceful movements which would fascinate viewers. Today, however, even females participate in the dance.
Padhar
It is performed by a rural community living around NalLake. In it, performers simulate the rhythmic movements of roving mariners and the undulating sea waves. The Bhil tribes, who live close to border tracts, and the Adivasis of Dangs district, have particularly lively folk dances.
[edit] Gujarati Cinema
Gujarati cinema completes 75 years in 2007. Gujarati filmdom with its actors, actresses, directors, producers and technicians is preparing to celebrate the year with much fanfare. Although Gujarati cinema has not given to the Indian movie house that honor and joy the Bengali and Malayalam films have provide, but it has its own share of glory.
Gujarati film started its journey in 1922 and during its run since then to this day it has much to state. From mythology to history, soial to political, Gujarati cinema has experimented with such stories and issues all these years.
A special mention should be made on the film Guasundari which was thrice made from 1927 to 1948. The film was such a success in its first appearance in 1927, that director Chandulal Shah remade it in 1934. The film was again remade in 1948 by Ratilal Hemchand Punater. In its last version Hindi films’ eternal Mother Nirupa Roy made her debut as its heroine.
Gunasundari is the story of an Indian poor woman who is disliked by her husband for her moral stand. The woman finally lands in the street where she meets with a person who is just like her – a social outcast. The story ends here. The three versions of the film , however, have made some changes here and there to meet the demands of the time.
In a filmdom which was theatrical and melodramatic and often shunned by the audience, Akhand Saubhagyabati , that starred Bollywood queen Asha Parekh, made a success in 1963. Asha also has immense contribution to Gujarati television serial making. Her TV production ’Jyoti’ was a household show for a long time. About recent Gujarati films, Suresh M Thakkar’s Sajan Haiye Sambhre, Gormano Var Kesariyo and Dikro Kahu Ke are huge hits.
Gujarat has immense contribution to the Bollywood in the form of sending actors and actresses of fame to make the base of Hindi films. Much of Bollywood rest on the performance of these Gujarati film men and women.
The list of such film personalities is scintilating. It includes Parveen Babi, Sanjay Leela Banshali, Manmohan Desai, Ismail Darbar, Sanjay Gadhvi, Kalyanji Anandji, Deepika Chikhalia, Bindu Desai, Dimple Kapadia, Ben Kingsley, Sanjeev Kumar, Ketan Mehta, Tina Munim, Namitha, Neelam, Asha Parekh, Amisha Patel, Upen Patel, Falguni Pathak, Paresh Rawal, Himesh Reshammiya, Nirupa Roy, Mallika Sarabhai, Shruti Seth, Satish Shah, Farooq Shaikh, Shravan, Ayesha Takia and Alka Yagnik.
[edit] Languages
Gujarat is inhabited by people belonging to varied castes, religions and communities. Due to this reason, a number of varied languages are spoken in the state. The official language of the state is Gujarati. It is an Indo-Aryan language derived from Sanskrit. Gujarati is the 26th most widely spoken language in the world. In addition to this, it has eleven dialects, spoken in different parts of the state.
Gujarat shares its borders with other neighboring states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Therefore, there is a small population which speaks the respective languages of the different states also, namely Marwari, Hindi, and Marathi. Apart from this, Urdu and Sindhi are also spoken in Gujarat. Kutch is one of the important areas in the state. It has an independent identity and is growing popular amongst tourists. The mother tongue of the people of Kutch is Kachchi. It is an important language of the region.
[edit] Religions
In Gujarat, there have been several great religious figures. Sant Dadu Dayal (1554-1603), a saint-poet and a major Bhakti figure from Ahmedabad treated equally both Rama and Allah as names of God and became popular in Northern India. He wrote, "The illusion of Allah and Rama hath been dispelled by my mind ; since I see Thee in all."[1]
Gujarat is also the home of Gandhi who preached the unity between all religions and became a world-wide figure for peaceful struggle against tyranny.
[edit] Hinduism
Gujarat is a part of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization.
Many Hindu religious traditions developed in Gujarat. Gujarat is the birth-place of Lord Shiva's avatar Lakulisa (Staff-God). He established the Pasupata Shaivite tradition (one of the six major schools of Shaivism) in 2 A.D. or 3 A.D. According to some traditions he was born in Kayarohana or Kayavatara in Saurashtra while other traditions hold that it was Karavana, in the modern-day town of Dabhoi Taluka near Baroda,[2] another that it was Ulkapuri (modern Avakhal)[3] and another that it was in Braoch or Bharuch.[4] From Gujarat it spread north to Kashmir,[5] South to Tamil Nadu,[6] East to Nepal[7] (where the Pashupatinath Temple stills exists popularly.)
[edit] Bhakti movement
The Bhakti movement was very popular in Gujarat where devotees of both Islam and Hinduism focused worship of God, trying to rid any separations based on faith in God.
Swami Chakradhara was another major figure of the Bhakti movement, born in Gujarat in 1194 A.D.[8] and he is believed to be the avatar of Vishnu. Chakradhara Maharaja established the Manhubhava Vaishnavite sect which spread to Maharashtra as well. The sect still exists today in Gujarat and Maharashtra.
Sant Kilha was another Vaishnavite saint of Gujarat born to a Subedar (army man) father.[9] He was the disciple of Krishnasdas (of Jaipur) and became his successor at the seat of Galta - Kilha's branch became known as the "Tapasa branch."[10] Besides Ram Bhakti (devotion to Lord Rama), he was also inclined towards yog-saghana and this is why he was made acharya of the Galta Gaddi.[11] He is said to be the founder of the Khati sect.[12] Jalarama, a devotee of Lord Rama is another popular figure. Jalarama's birthday is still celebrated by Gujarati (in Gujarat and abroad) as Jalaram Jayanti.
Swami Sahajananda, better known as Swami Narayana settled in Gujarat from Uttar Pradesh. Today the Swami Narayana movement is very large in Gujarat.
[edit] Zoroastrianism
This religion founded by Zarathustra Spitma (better known as "Zoroaster") resembles Hinduism in many ways (although differing as a strict monotheism too.)
For example, in this religion, the cow is very sacred. In the 9th chapter of the of the Vendidad of the Avesta, the purificatory power of cow urine is dilated upon.[13] It is declared to be a panacea for all bodily and moral evils. It is drunk as well as applied externally as is done by Hindus also.[14] Urine of the bull, called "nirang" is brought to the house of an orthodox Parsi every morning and is (like cow milk) applied to the face, hands and feet.[15]
They Zoroastrians a.k.a. Parsi and Irani due to their ancient heritage entered Gujarat from the Persian Empire.
They have many businesses in India and are economically very powerful.
[edit] Gujarat Cuisine
Gujarat is known for its traditional food the world wide over. The state provides immense variety in everything, be it tourism, shopping or food. The diversity you will find in the Gujarati cuisine is simply outstanding. So much of variation in just one state is an unusual phenomenon. The taste, preparation and type of food depend mainly on region, climate, location and lifestyle. So, one can say that Gujaratis strongly believe in 'Variety is the spice of life'. The South, North and Saurashtra region of Gujarat presents a completely different platter, which is delectable in its own way.
The food served in the South of Gujarat is influenced by the cuisine of Maharashtra. There is considerably less use of sugar in the dishes. In South Gujarat, people usually consume Jowar, whereas in Saurashtra and North Gujarat, the diet comprises 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.
The Gujarati Thali is absolutely a treat for your taste buds. Apart from the taste, it is so attractive in appearance, that just a glimpse of it will bring water to your mouth. It contains all the four major components, namely Cereal, Pulses, Vegetables, Rice and supplements like pickle, chutney, papad, buttermilk and salad. There is ample use of ginger, garlic, green chilies and jaggery in various dishes. Sugar is also used at times. It is a completely delectable platter that cannot be resisted at any cost. However, the staple diet in Gujarat is Tuver Dal served with rice. There is an entire array of food items prepared in the state.
Sweets
Snacks
- Bhajias/Pakoras
- Pav Bhaji
- Chana Dal Wada
- Dal Wada
- Dhokla
- Farsi Puri
- Gandhias
- Handvo
- Kachori
- Khandvi
- Muthias
- Sev-Usal
- Bhel
- Pani Puri
Pulses (Dals)Kadhi
Vegetables
- Batata Suki Bhaji
- Cabbage Peas
- Cauliflower-Green Peas
- Methi Mutter
- Okra
- Sev-Tomatoes
[edit] Paan Chewing in Gujarat
Betel chewing is a part of many Asian cultures, and preparation techniques vary from region to region. The nut is either slivered or grated, often flavored with spices according to local tradition and usually wrapped in a betel leaf ( betel leaf comes from the betel pepper plant, Piper betle, which is not botanically related to the betel palm, Areca catechu), along with some lime (calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide) to better extract the alkaloids. Some people also chew tobacco with betel nut. After about 20 minutes of chewing, the fibrous residue which remains of the nut is spat on the street, where it remains visible due to its characteristic bright red color. Trails of bright red sputum lining the sidewalks are a sure indication of the popularity of betel chewing in an area.
In Gujarat, betel (called paan ) chewing is as popular as tobacco smoking in the whole world. Paan is often served wrapped in a betel leaf,
In Gujarat, in fact in the whole of India, paan has been playing an important part in social life and customs for hundreds of years. In the courts of Medieval Rulers, the betel leaf or pan was offered as part of hospitality, friendship and love.
The Different types of paans are:
- Saada paan: Just a filling of cardamom, betel nut and cloves.
- Chutney paan: Has a filling of cardamom, betel nut & spicy mint paste.
- Meetha paan: Its filled with grated coconut, dates, gulkand (rose petal & sugar syrup) & jellied fruit.
- Tobacco paan: is filled with tobacco of different brands and betel nut.
Eating pan continuously and with tobacco can cause cancer but then anything is bad in excess. Moreover, the tobacco users also need to spit it out which they do everywhere. you will see the landing of many buildings covered with the stains of pan spit making the place very ugly.
