Sirohi - Rajasthan - India

Every year in India the Hindu month of Shravana marks several festivals and cultural events. One such event starts in Mewar region of southern Rajasthan which is home to numerous indigenous communities. The festival called ‘Gavari’ revolves the cosmic energy of primal Goddess Gauri (or Lord Shiva’s consort is performed majorly by tribal community of Bhils and some characters are played by members of Meena and Gameti communities. Aptly called the ‘Opera of Mewar’ Gavari starts a day after the hindu festival of Raksha Bandhan and continue for 40 days. It is performed by men only who enact both male and female roles. The men must practice abstinence during the duration and visit a new village or site everyday where they would perform through the day as a troupe. The origins of Gavari are rather obscure as it’s been passed on as an oral and visual tradition over the centuries. An interesting amalgam of dramaturgy, archaic myths, and eco-mysticism it brings people and communities together in Mewar for 40 days. There are several characters- some core and other ancillary that are played at Gavari nachna(enactment of Gavari). There are impromptu improvisations as there are no set rules of performance and narration. The characters remain the same in spirit but adapt modern sensibilities to stay relevant and engaging. The performers regularly go in a trance like state and towards the end of act many amongst the audience enter a stage of trance too. As a cross-cultural phenomenon Gavari is a striking example of how a traditional dramaturgical craft can stay relevant by engaging diverse audiences across time and space.