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Gavri is a unique 40-day ritualistic folk festival celebrated annually by the Bhil tribal community of the Mewar region in Rajasthan. It is a vibrant blend of dance, drama, music, and oral storytelling rooted deeply in the Bhil worldview, spirituality, and socio-cultural expression.

Key Features:

• Duration: 40 days, usually observed during the Hindu months of Shravana and Bhadrapada (July to September), coinciding with the monsoon and early harvest season.
• Form: A fusion of dance, drama (khel), mime, and dialogues.
• Theme: Enacts mythological battles between good and evil, primarily featuring Goddess Gauri/Amba and demons such as Bhasmasur or Bhiamwal, symbolizing the triumph of good.
• Performance Spaces: Villages where the performers' married sisters and daughters reside, reinforcing familial ties and social cohesion.
• Characters: All roles, including female ones, are portrayed by male performers, due to prevailing patriarchal norms.
• Narration: A storyteller called Kutkadiya introduces each scene, enhancing audience immersion.
• Costumes & Music: Colorful attire, energetic drumming, and folk instruments create a lively, theatrical atmosphere.

Cultural and Social Significance

• Spiritual Identity: The Bhil community considers themselves descendants of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, viewing Parvati (Gauri) as their divine sister. Gavri is performed to honour her and ensure the well-being of their married women.
• Oral Heritage: The festival preserves centuries-old oral traditions, possibly dating back to the 3rd or 4th century CE, with references to the era of Siddhraj Jai Singh of Gujarat.
• Carnivalesque Spirit: Gavri subverts caste and class hierarchies through humor, parody, and satire. Authority figures, kings, and even gods may be lampooned in the plays.
• Resistance & Nature Worship: Performances like Badliya Hindwa and Bhilurana reflect themes of nature worship, tribal resistance to invaders (Mughals, British), and warnings against ecological destruction.
• Gender Fluidity: Though patriarchal in nature, the performance of female roles by men adds a layer of gender expression and cultural fluidity during the ritual.

Bhil Tribe: An Overview

• One of India's largest Adivasi groups, found mainly in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
• Speak the Bhili language and practice a syncretic faith combining animism with Hindu mythology.
• Their cultural identity is closely tied to forests, nature, and community-based rituals like Gavri.