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Keeping alive tradition

The Gujarat Utsav 2006 not only reflected the taste and concerns of Kochi's Gujarati community but also showcased the community's rich heritage

CELEBRATION OF CULTURE Some of the cultural programmes that were staged as part of `Gujarat Utsav'

The Cochin Gujarati Mahajan organised a get-together of the Gujarati community, which was replete with different competitions, an exhibition, food stalls, and entertainment spread ever the weekend. (May 6-7). The event was held at Sri Gujarati School, Mattancherry.

"Our people have been here since generations but our younger generation, born here, has hardly seen Gujarat. We want to keep them aware of our culture, our folk dances, our food habits and traditions," said Jawahar Lalka, president of the Cochin Gujarati Mahajan, on the rationale behind hosting the event they called Gujarat Utsav 2006. An event of this sort would surely enhance their knowledge of this tradition and keep their "interest and knowledge alive." Mr. Lalka informed that though this was a small way of achieving the goal, he hoped "to invite artists from Gujarat with the help of the Gujarat government so that we can get to see the originals."

The event was an eclectic mix, reflecting the taste and concerns of the community here. While the `chhab' decoration or the `rangoli' competitions were representatives of Gujarati culture, the drawing, collage and house construction competitions covered a wider range with general themes like a festival of India, National Integrity and India in 2050. Interestingly, quite a few cut outs for the collages were from English language magazines and newspapers. Youngsters, clad in jeans and even spaghetti-strapped tops, lined up at the counter to enter their `chhabs' with typical Gujarati motifs for the competitions. A `chhab' is a flat basket, which is often decorated for festive occasions with tinsel, beads, hangings, mirrors, artificial flowers, bandhini materials or whatever one fancies, in which gifts etc. can be presented or displayed.

An event that caught the eye was the jewellery designing competition by making use of pulses. The necklaces, bangles, earrings and bracelets made of gram, peas, rajma and other pulses had to be wearable. The entries were so attractive that any fashion conscious person could have worn them anytime with aplomb. But they were also authentic looking in another way in the sense that the designs were typical of the real jewellery worn by the folk of Gujarat. There was a handwriting competition for various categories from students up to the third standard to 15 years and above, in Gujarati, Hindi and English. Samples were provided on which the participants had to model their own work. "We had a very good response to the competitions, said Bhavanaben Parekh and Kaajal Shah, who were helping out with the show. All the entries were displayed at an exhibition held at the venue, and this attracted a sizeable crowd.

The food stalls provided typical Gujarati fare as well as items from other States, which are popular with community in Kochi. Gujarati dances such as the Garba and Rajasthani folk were also held.

PRATIMA ASHER

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