Promoting the tribal culture! Vapi Women's Club exhibits aesthetic sense of Adivasi traditional wedding

Vapi, April 12: Even decades of deprivation has not diminished the aesthetic sense of the tribals, who sort of celebrate their lives by focussing upon it in their own ways. One of the occasions for the Adivasis to exhibit their aesthetic sense is a traditional wedding which unfolds the moment of joy for 'prakriti' too. In one such unique proceedings, a women's club in Gujarat's Vapi district recently, on April 4, organised a Tribal collective wedding fair and promoted the tribal culture and their way of existence.

 

 

The whole atmosphere at the Adivasi wedding made for a beautiful environment with traditional folk music and dances being a part of the celebrations. The dancing and singing go so well with the music which was played as rituals kept unfolding during the event which used colours of bright shades to decorate the mandapam and the compartments which had marriage scheduled.

 

 

 Promoting Tribal products at wedding 

 

"We all have been striving to make the day what it was. 11 of Adivasi couples got married that day. We had invited the cultural folk artists to add colors of joy to the event. Everybody danced on the beats of Adivasi music and the belongings also seemed to enjoy the day", said Smita Taparia, President of Vapi Women's Club. When asked about the cause, she said that the only reason the club thought of doing this was to promote the Adivasi culture and make them feel one of us everybody. "For gifts usually offered after the weddings, we at the Club decided to hand upon the honey flasks that were produced by these Adivasi people", she added.

 

 

 

The most important part of an Adivasi wedding where the aesthetic sense and the lifestyle of these tribal people is evident is the mandapam which consists of a symbolic stage for the bride and groom to sit while the marriage ceremony is performed. “The elaborate geometric design of the of the mandapam represents fire or agni. We arranged it after in consultation to the rooted ones", Taparia noted adding that all the health related and social distancing aspects were taken care of amidst COVID-19 second wave. 

 

 

 

Adivasi is a collective word used for many indigenous people in India. The word derives from the Hindi word ‘Adi’ which means from the beginning or early times and ‘Vasi’ which means resident or inhabitant. These people worship nature, mainly the land, forest, air, water, and animal as they believe that nature (Prakariti) is their only god and goddess. Nature plays a vital role in their customs and traditions, especially at the weddings.

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