The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Catching the eye in ethnic style

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Saturday, Dec 29, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Catching the eye in ethnic style

S. Harpal Singh

Sticking to tradition: Women of Mahawat community in their ethnic attire, jewellery and head gear.

ADILABAD: In case one wants to find out how chic an ethnic can be, he or she needs to look at the Mahawat womenfolk from Barabanki in Uttar Pradesh.

These women have a dress sense that can only be termed as exotic or gorgeous what with the attractive patterns and brilliant colours of the ghaghra-cholis, the jewellery and the head dresses.In comparison to the economy of other nomadic communities, the Mahawats seem to be at the bottom. However, the attire of the women tells the tale of a life lived in prosperity and comfort once upon a time.

The ghaghra-choli, the dupatta tied around the hair bun and the jewellery are worn traditionally by the woman from Barabanki, according to community elders. Though the dress material, the dupatta and other pieces of jewellery are unique to this community, those are common place in their native land.

The Mahawats were once mahauts or elephant-tamers during the time of rajahs and maharajas according to Ketad, the headman among the few families that have wandered into Adilabad town. Na rajaon ka raj raha, na zamindaron ki zamindari. Haathi bhi nahin rahe na, observes the head man trying to explain the plight of the community. Necessity taught the community to take to dispensing herbal medicine and medicinal oils for ‘curing’ common diseases like cold and fever besides joint pains. The exigency of their adopted profession required roaming which explains their nomadic status.

Men from every family are supposed to get themselves acquainted with the medicines that are dispensed before launching themselves into the profession. The learning comes under the tutelage of the family head.

The Darabganj hills near Shimla in Himachal Pradesh and Pachmarhi in Madhya Pradesh are two places where they get the herbs and medicinal oils from. Vahan par hamen davaiyon par shiksha bhi dee jati hai, reveales Ketad.

Livelihood

As men move about villages after dropping anchor at a given place, the women go around town foraging for food. They gather small bits and pieces of iron and other scrap from anywhere they care to go. A sizable accumulation begets them some money with which they purchase the meagre rations that comprise of jowar rotis.

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