Rajkot: Weddings in many Darbar households are said to be incomplete without liquor, splurging of notes on drummers and a boisterous display of weapons.
For generations, the community has been fiercely holding on to intimately entwined customs, notwithstanding the dangerous celebratory firing in grooms’ processions that have even snuffed out lives.
But winds of change are blowing among the community members. Dabar and other sub-caste leaders recently met in Cher village of Dhandhuka in Ahmedabad district and Talaja near Bhavnagar and resolved to abolish these archaic practices.
Talking to TOI, Mahendrasinh Chudasama, a community leader of Cher said, “Firearm in the hands of a drunk reveller is a very lethal combination. In such a scenario, people dying from misfiring or being injured in wedding processions are common. That is why we have decided to henceforth stop all these practices.”
Cher is dominated by the Chudasamas, a sub-caste of Darbars. This decision stands to impact nearly 52 villages dominated by Chudasamas in the village’s vicinity.
For a start, the Chudasamas of Dhandhuka and the Sarvaiyas of Talaja have decided to slap Rs 25,000 penalty on those indulging in any of these ritualistic practices.
Another practice they are looking to abolish is ‘ghor’ tradition, wherein relatives of groom rain notes on drummers.
“Financial condition of every family may not favour such extravaganza. Many even borrow money to maintain their prestige,” Chudasama said. Due to this ritual, the procession takes a long time to reach the marriage venue and it is during this time that some revellers open fire, some in inebriated condition.
Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, executive council member of Dhandhuka Rajput Samaj said, “We will call a meeting of 52 villages of Chudasamas and put up a proposal to follow the decision taken by Cher village.”
The Sarvaiyas in Pasvi village near Talaja had also taken the same decision a few months ago. Shaktisinh Sarvaiya, a primary teacher and leader of the community, said, “We have started abolishing these practices from the current marriage season itself. The villagers have also agreed not to indulge in the practices looking at the disadvantages of the traditional rituals.”
Sarvaiya further said that the villagers have also agreed to boycott marriage functions where liquor is served to the guests. They will also ban entry of zonked guests in such functions.
INSET
Mention ‘Jain’ as religion in census: Monks
Surat: Prominent monks from 18 different Jain sects have exhorted the community and followers to specifically mention ‘Jain’ as their religion in the upcoming census. This was one of the key decisions taken at the three-day meeting of Jain monks held in the city to discuss important issues concerning the religion. tnn
For generations, the community has been fiercely holding on to intimately entwined customs, notwithstanding the dangerous celebratory firing in grooms’ processions that have even snuffed out lives.
But winds of change are blowing among the community members. Dabar and other sub-caste leaders recently met in Cher village of Dhandhuka in Ahmedabad district and Talaja near Bhavnagar and resolved to abolish these archaic practices.
Talking to TOI, Mahendrasinh Chudasama, a community leader of Cher said, “Firearm in the hands of a drunk reveller is a very lethal combination. In such a scenario, people dying from misfiring or being injured in wedding processions are common. That is why we have decided to henceforth stop all these practices.”
Cher is dominated by the Chudasamas, a sub-caste of Darbars. This decision stands to impact nearly 52 villages dominated by Chudasamas in the village’s vicinity.
For a start, the Chudasamas of Dhandhuka and the Sarvaiyas of Talaja have decided to slap Rs 25,000 penalty on those indulging in any of these ritualistic practices.
Another practice they are looking to abolish is ‘ghor’ tradition, wherein relatives of groom rain notes on drummers.
“Financial condition of every family may not favour such extravaganza. Many even borrow money to maintain their prestige,” Chudasama said. Due to this ritual, the procession takes a long time to reach the marriage venue and it is during this time that some revellers open fire, some in inebriated condition.
Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, executive council member of Dhandhuka Rajput Samaj said, “We will call a meeting of 52 villages of Chudasamas and put up a proposal to follow the decision taken by Cher village.”
The Sarvaiyas in Pasvi village near Talaja had also taken the same decision a few months ago. Shaktisinh Sarvaiya, a primary teacher and leader of the community, said, “We have started abolishing these practices from the current marriage season itself. The villagers have also agreed not to indulge in the practices looking at the disadvantages of the traditional rituals.”
Sarvaiya further said that the villagers have also agreed to boycott marriage functions where liquor is served to the guests. They will also ban entry of zonked guests in such functions.
INSET
Mention ‘Jain’ as religion in census: Monks
Surat: Prominent monks from 18 different Jain sects have exhorted the community and followers to specifically mention ‘Jain’ as their religion in the upcoming census. This was one of the key decisions taken at the three-day meeting of Jain monks held in the city to discuss important issues concerning the religion. tnn
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