### Collective Folk Dance of Eight Gawariyas

*Udaipur:* As every year, this year too, Udaipur Rural MLA Phool Singh Meena organized the collective dance of eight Gawariyas at Hotel Harsh Palace in Balicha. The Gawariyas performed from the villages of Karnali, Dodawali, Nai, Alsigarh, Kaliwas, Undri, Peepaliya, and Poplti.

MLA Phool Singh Meena stated that such collective Gawari performances are not merely limited to entertainment. Through these dances, our tribal artists convey messages on women empowerment, environmental conservation, and other themes during the performances. This is why people from all communities and age groups come to witness these tribal performances.

He explained that the Gawari performance revolves around the drama of Shiva and Parvati and emphasizes the preservation of nature. None of the "plays" in Gawari are against nature. According to “Vadlya Hindwa,” the performance emphasizes saving trees at all costs. The Gawari performance is believed to bring the blessings of Gaurjya Devi (Parvati) and ensures good rainfall where it is staged. The unique aspect of Gawari is the profound respect and affection for nature and women, which is not observed in any other theatrical tradition. Some performances, like the Banjara-Meena (Khyal) play, carry messages about saving cattle and sheep.

Former Panchayat Samiti Girwa President Takht Singh Shaktawat remarked that Gawari also speaks about honoring daughters. In Mewar, the Gawari performance has been a tradition for centuries. It has been a custom that Gawari performances take place in villages where daughters or sisters from their native village are married. Thus, Gawari groups do not only pray for good rain in their own village but also for all places where their village’s daughters are married. This tradition of honoring daughters is unique and not found elsewhere.

On this occasion, BJP City District President Ravindra Shrimali, State Coordinator of Cooperative Cell Pramod Samar, Former Panchayat Samiti Girwa President Takht Singh Shaktawat, Devi Lal Bhagora, Leader of Opposition Panchayat Samiti Girwa Gunwant Kothari, Badrilal Choudhary, District Vice President Atul Chandaliya, BJP District Minister Amrit Menaria, Deepak Bolya, Mandal President Devi Lal Salvi, Dinesh Dhyabhai, Himmat Singh Devda, Shivdan Singh, Kamlesh Sharma, Ram Lal Bhagora, Khubesh Suthar, and other officials and community members were present.