RIFF, 09, 2023, 03: Festival director’s film screened at Dhaka International Film Festival

Rajasthani documentary film Dhinga Gavar, directed and produced by Somendra Harsh, was screened at the 21st Dhaka International Film Festival. The film had its world première at the National Museum in Dhaka on Wednesday. Somendra Harsh represented his film and interacted with the cine lovers present there. ‘Dhinga’ means fun by pretence and ‘Gavar’ means Gangaur or Gauri (Parvati), Lord Shiva's wife.

Dr. Poonam Gupta, ICCR Hindi Chair, Department of Hindi - Institute of Modern Languages, Dhaka University (founded in 1974), along with the students of the department, were also present at the screening of Dhinga Gavar.

This short documentary is about the Dhinga Gavar festival, which only takes place in the city of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, during the Chitra month, according to the Hindu calendar. The documentary showcases the history of the festival, along with its mythological as well as spiritual aspects. It also highlights various facts about this festival, one of them being that even widows can take part in the celebrations, which is not the case with many Hindu celebrations involving women, and even otherwise. During Dhinga Gavar, women worship the statues of Shiva (Isar) and his consort Parvati (Gangaur), to seek blessings for marital bliss.

Ladies who keep the fast are called Teejania, in the local language. They not only patrol the streets at night but also keep a stick in their hands. An unmarried man who gets beaten by Teejania is likely to get married within a year after that! So men who tease this rally might get thrashed nicely, and ladies happily take full advantage of that. Women dress up, inspired from various mythological characters, like Lord Krishna, demons, dacoits, police officers, etc., preparing well before the festival and even booking makeup men and their costumes. They sing, dance and enjoy their night out, without any restrictions.

Somendra Harsh is also the director of Rajasthan International Film Festival and has been working for the last 9 years promoting the Rajasthani language, as well as the Art and Culture of Rajasthan.