Mount Abu "Garasias" Our Tribal People

The Full Flower Moon. Abu’s hill sides are in full bloom. Out here in India it’s called “Buddha Purnima”. The full moon this year has fallen on May 2, 2007; it commemorates the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha. It’s an auspicious day and folks in India throng to Religious sites to pray, and seek the blessings of the gods, what really interest me is the invasion of my home town by thousands of ‘‘Garasias”.

These Garasias throng to Abu by the hundreds and that to on foot, they hoof it all the way up from Villages all over Rajasthan. They come in huge groups singing and dancing in their local dialect till they amass around the famous Nakki Lake at Abu, their final destination.

For the Garasias this “Buddha Purmina” is a day of special significance, because on this day, marriages are either premeditated or spontaneous. After the elopement, a bride “price” is paid to the bride’s father. Should this agreement not work out the girl returns home with her father who receives some money for the inconvenience caused.

The Garasias, legend has it are descendants of the Rajput tribe of the Chauhans. Apparently the Chauhans after being defeated in a battle eons ago fled and mingled with the local Bhil tribal to form a distinctive group. The tribal population of Garasias is concentrated around the hills of Abu and the Kotra region of Udaipur.

It is not surprising that the Garasias have a semblance of Bhil culture where bows and arrows attribute significantly, towards hunting and personal protection. I Still fail to understand how they have a higher status than the native Bhils, perhaps there is some truth in the legend of the Garasias origin (the fallen Rajputs)

I spent some time amongst these happy go lucky folks, I was carried away with their gaiety, and their colourful attire, their zest for life sure left an impression on me. I’m posting a few snaps taken of these fun loving folks, happy viewing.

 Sickle Cell Anemia in Garasia Tribals of Rajasthan

http://medind.nic.in/ibv/t09/i3/ibvt09i3p239.pdf