UpdateBot at 19:24, 29 May 2022

2022-05-29T19:24:29Z

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{{Unreferenced|date=April 2009}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2022}}
[[File:Dhinga Gavar.JPG|thumb|Dhinga Gavar|250px]]
'''Dhinga Gavar''' is a festival celebrated in [[Jodhpur]], in Western [[Rajasthan]] in [[India]]. "Dhinga" literally means "fun by deception"; Gavar, also known as [[Gangaur]] is the consort of [[Shiva]]. The festival of [[Gangaur]] is celebrated throughout [[India]], but that of Dhinga Gavar is celebrated only in [[Jodhpur]].

==Folk Deity==

Dhinga Gavar is a [[Folk religion|folk]] [[deity]], the humorous side of Shiva's consort [[Gangaur]].

==Time and Location==

The festival of Ganguar starts from next day of the spring festival [[Holi]], which falls on the full-moon day of the month [[Phalguna|Phagun]] of the [[Hindu calendar]]. Ganguar is worshipped mainly by newly-wed brides, unmarried girls, and married women. Every day, they dress in traditional ceremonial [[Rajasthan]] costume and worship clay or wood statues of Isar ([[Shiva]]) and his consort [[Gangaur]] ([[Parvati]]), beseeching them for marital bliss. The festival ends on the following third day of no moon (amawas) of month [[chaitra]]. Thus the celebration lasts for sixteen days because of shortfall in tithi which is common in the lunar calendar. On this final day of the festival, a huge procession of well-decorated images of Ishar is taken through the main markets of cities; large crowds assemble in the streets to pray to them.

On this day [[Teej]] in Jodhpur, one image of Ganaur without Isar, known as Dhinga Gavar, is established at 11 important streets (''mohalla'') within the old fort wall of Jodhpur. It is worshipped by all women: married, unmarried, and widows.

==Mythology==

The legend is that [[Shiva]] once teased his consort [[Parvati]] by dressing up as a cobbler. In retaliation [[Parvati]] also appeared as [[Bhil]] [[tribal]] women before [[Shiva]] to tease and have some fun out of it.

==Function==
[[File:masquerade.JPG|thumb|Women masquerading as Hindu Gods|250px]]

The function of Dhinga Gavar starts after sunset when the statues of Dhinga Gavar are put on a dais at 11 important location of old Jodhpur city. Each statue is decorated in typical Rajasthan costume with gold jewellery of 5 kg to 30 kg. The offerings to Dhinga Gavar are made of cannabis and dry fruits powder and is known as "moi".

The women of whom mostly are from [[Pushkarna]] [[Brahmin]] families dress up in fancy dress costume as various [[Hindu Gods]] and [[Hindu Goddess]], police, saints, dacoit, tribal etc. and carry a stick in their hand. They patrol the narrow streets of Jodhpur city whole night protecting the statue of Dhinga Gavar.

It is a popular belief that any unmarried man who comes near these women and is stricken by the stick gets married soon with a suitable girl. Stick is called baint in Hindi so this festival is also known as Baintmar Teej.

[[File:Teejania.JPG|thumb|Girls happy for beating boys with sticks|200px]]

==Teejania==

The girls and women observing fast of Dhinga Gavar known as Teejania carrying sticks in their hands virtually rule the road on this night. Though enough police is deployed but little intervention is needed and crowd finds its own equilibrium of discipline. Boys to get a "lucky strike" go near girls and sometimes tease them to get beaten up by decorated sticks.

This is the only festival which gives equal rights to all kinds of women. In this festival even a widow can take part.

==References==
{{commons category}}
*https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNlgxseDjdM
*https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8c5MFLLQD8E

[[Category:Rajasthani culture]]

Dhinga Gavar - Revision history

UpdateBot at 19:24, 29 May 2022