RAS question
The 'Gavri' folk drama is performed starting from which festival?
Correct answer: (B) Raksha Bandhan.
Gavri folk drama begins on the day following Raksha Bandhan, so Raksha Bandhan is the festival from which its performance cycle starts.
Explanation
Gavri is tied to Raksha Bandhan because its ritual performance cycle starts the next day. The Utsav page describes Gavri as a sacred dance-drama performed for forty days in the rainy season, centred on Shankar and Parvati. The ritual begins after Raksha Bandhan, once sowing has been completed and crops are beginning to sprout, making it a suitable period for village worship. Bhil performers observe strict vows during this period, including avoiding fried food, beds and shoes. Gavri is linked to a specific post-Raksha Bandhan commencement rather than a generic monsoon or Navratri association.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Navratri is not the start point for Gavri; its ritual commencement is placed on the day following Raksha Bandhan.
- (C) Diwali comes too late for this sequence, while Gavri begins immediately after Raksha Bandhan and continues for forty days.
- (D) Holi is associated with Chang dance, whereas Gavri's start is specifically fixed after Raksha Bandhan.
Concept
Rajasthan folk performance traditions often connect tribal ritual theatre with the agricultural and festival calendar. RAS frequently uses such markers to distinguish similar folk dances and seasonal cultural practices.