VADODARA: When most garba revellers are grooving to dandia beats in the city, another old folk form comes alive near
Khanderao Market
every year.
A family belonging to the Kachhiya Patel community has kept alive their 175-year-old tradition of performing 'bhavai' on the third night of
Navratri till date. Generation have passed, performers and participants have changed but the performance is still the same, say locals who throng to see the 20 family members of
Daxesh Patel
perform bhavai near
Verai Mata
temple.
"Our forefathers started bhavai out of devotion for the goddess and we have continued the practice," said Patel, who plays tabla in the performance.
Patel, a gold medallist in tabla from MS University, told TOI: "Apart from our 20 family members, we also have performers coming from other parts of
Gujarat
like
Kadi
and Kalol. The folk form is performed till early morning the next day."
He added that apart from playing different characters of bhavai, his family members also play harmonium, 'kashi joda' and 'bhungal' that are considered to be the principal musical instruments in this folk art.
In bhavai, the female characters like Chataki, Tejan, Jasama are usually played by males. However, at Verai Mata temple, the female characters are played by eunuchs from Baranpura 'akhada' in city. This practice has been prevalent since the 'bhavai' started more than a century ago.
"Our gurus have been performing in this 'bhavai' for several years. We play the female characters and recite the 'chhand'," said Manisha Kunwar, who is playing female roles for the last five years.
On the eighth night of Navratri, the group also performs bhavai at Ranu Tulja Mata temple in Padra taluka.
Apart from Navratri, the group that consists of retired government employees, vegetable traders among others, has also performed 'bhavai' on different themes to spread social message like AIDS control, dengue prevention, saving electricity among others.
Start a Conversation
Post comment