A grand Gindad Holi was held at Rajaldesar in Rajasthan, one of the best-loved Holi traditions of the region.
The rhythm of Gindad
The Gindad tradition involves rhythmic call-and-response singing and dance, and it drew the whole community together.
Rajasthani pride on display
The event became a spirited display of Rajasthani pride and cultural heritage.
What sets the Gindad dance apart
Gindad is chiefly a Holi tradition of the Shekhawati region — Sikar, Churu and Jhunjhunu. Men dance with sticks in their hands to the beat of large nagadas or the chang. These night-long events also include swang, comic turns performed in costume.
A tie to the home region
For Shekhawati families settled in Ahmedabad, the Holi of towns like Rajaldesar is part of what they remember. That is why the migrant community tries to recreate these same traditions at its own events.
Events that run through the night
Events such as Gindad usually go on all night and draw in the whole town. They are not only dance but an annual occasion for renewing collective memory and social ties.
