I Always thought my mother came from a dull and boring place..  But she proves me wrong like always.. sometimes you take a trip totally clueless of what you get to see could add a lot to your life.. Such a place and such a trip was that of Chirawa.. My mothers home..now  very much my own .. A place which you could call somewhere nice to go.. 

 

While i d stroll on the streets, this place looked more familiar then my own place.. more welcoming then ever.. expcially those paintings on the wall , very inviting, sneak peak was must through those doors.. 

wearing the typical dporiya sarees, chewing tobacco are these shy women ifromt of Haveli of the rich lords, Dalmiyas, who left  for bigger business to metropolitans, leaving behind caretakers and their families, who now live in this 12 rooms havelis..

I had reached there at the time og gangaur.. one of the most vivid festivals rejoiced with great enthusiasm and happiness all over the Indian state of Rajasthan. In the word Gangaur, 'Gan' is the synonym for Lord Shiva whereas 'Gaur' stands for Gauri or Goddess Parvati. But mainly, this festival is held in the honour of Goddess Parvati as she is regarded as the epitome of marital love, strength, courage, power and excellence.

During the festivities, married women worship Goddess Parvati for the long life, well being and wealth of their husbands while the girls pray for getting a smart and an understanding life partner. The festival is rejoiced in the month of Chaitra, the first month of the Hindu calendar and falls in between March and April, according to Gregorian calendar

The festival is rejoiced in the month of Chaitra, the first month of the Hindu calendar and falls in between March and April, according to Gregorian calendar. It begins on the very first day Chaitra month, the day after Holi and is celebrated for 18 days. Also, it marks the end of winter season and the coming of spring season

its just another form of shiv parvati pooja.. moreover it sounded like a reason for newly wed girls to spend some good time at home and get dressed for the processions.. the newly marrieds are the celebrities that time. + this is also connected to new year celebration according to the Indian calender.

under that covered piece of cloth is the gangaur which this girl had worshiped for 18 days as an avatar of parvati which, like sati does self immolation according to the folklore of his region.. though i heard different versions of the same. Gana is lord shiva and gaur is Parvati

you might find this weird , but those men on the sides are to stop girls from jumping into the well with their respective gangaurs since many of them got too emotional while bidding a fare well cause those 18 days of worship were the best days @ their parental house after marriage after which they would never get a chance to stay so long at their house,once married, and those girls were really young then..

ladies marching back after the gangaur procession at Bavri.mostly dressed in "peeliya" , orangish red sarree or "Odhnaa"  wrapped for special occassions , auspicious events like weddings and pooja..

Takat Hazara-painting on one of the walls depicting women enjoying swings at the time of teej wearing " piliya" 

my friends who would tell me all about the sounds they d sometimes hear through the windows.. The way described it.. it was supposedly pigeons only 

havelis covered with net to avoid birds destroying the wall with there excreta.. however they had their nestes inside.. the royal dwellers 

old havelis in rumble.. on this street with no name..