The Kshatriya Rajput samaj held a Holi Sneh Milan in Sola, Gujarat, where members of the samaj gathered and celebrated the festival of colours in a spirit of warmth.
A tradition of coming together
The event reflects the samaj’s tradition of tying festival occasions to a collective gathering.
Shared celebration strengthens ties
Celebrating together is what keeps the bonds within the samaj strong.
Why Sneh Milan matters in practice
In large cities the families of a samaj live scattered far apart, and meeting from day to day becomes difficult. A Sneh Milan, held once or twice a year, is the one occasion on which the whole samaj comes together in one place. It is at these events that introductions are made, marriage matches are discussed and decisions of the samaj are taken.
The Rajput samaj in Gujarat
Kshatriya Rajput families originally from Rajasthan have been settled in Gujarat for a long time, and they have maintained their social structures here as well.
Festivals and community organisations
The annual calendar of most community organisations is built around festivals — Holi, Diwali, Navratri and the birth anniversary of the samaj’s presiding deity. It is these events that keep an organisation active and relevant.
