Gangaur, the Rajasthani women’s festival, was celebrated in a two-day event at GC Park recently by Salt Lake Lok Sanskriti. 

On the first day, devotees performed puja before a Kumartuli-sculpted idol of Gauri mata and on the second day there were stage performances, mostly by women.

“I’ll be dancing to Ganesh vandana, Hey shubhaarambh from the film Kai Po Che! and a Rajasthani song called Kalo kood pado mele mein,” smiled Preeti Singal, a resident of Kestopur, who had been rehearsing for weeks. “The excitement of performing on stage adds to the fun of the festival,” she smiled.  

There were also devotional songs sung to the tune of film songs and booklets with the lyrics were distributed to the audience so they could sing along. “I prefer writing lyrics for old songs but the public demands the latest hits,” said Raj Kumar Daga, who has been writing such songs for 35 years. 

So to the tune of Manwa lage from the recent blockbuster Happy New Year he had lyrics beginning Maiya aayi, ayi hai aaj re. And to Aane Se Uske Aaye Bahaar, pictured on Jeetendra, were lyrics beginning Sone ke rath pe hoke savaar. “These tunes are familiar and popular and people sing them without any practice,” said Daga. 

A number of stalls had come up in the park selling salwar suits, jewellery and puja items. “The temperature is soaring these days so we’ve got summer-special sleeveless clothes for Laddo Gopal made of beads and pearls,” showed Sanju Surana, who along with partner Manju Jain, makes these items at home and sells them under the brand name Auro Creations. “We also have swings and thrones for idols of various sizes,” she added.

The food stalls on the sides sold everything from pasta to pao bhaji. 

“The show came out just the way we had planned,” said president of the ladies wing of the group, Indu Jhawar. “But next time we shall try to keep cultural programmes on both days of the festival.”