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The Gulaal Gota (Hindi: गुलाल गोटा, lit. 'color ball') is a small, spherical container made from lac, filled with dry Gulal powder, used for celebrating the Hindu festival of Holi.[1] It is a traditional element of Holi celebrations in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India, with a history dating back around 300 or 400 years.[2][3][4]
History edit
The use of Gulal Gotas can be traced back to the time of the erstwhile Jaipur royal family. According to legends, Gulal Gotas were a favoured way for the royals to play Holi. These handcrafted balls are made by the Muslim artisan community known as Manihars in Jaipur.[2][5][6]
The Indian government has provided "artisan cards" to artisans of Gulaal Gota, granting them access to various benefits under government schemes. There is demand from Gulaal Gota makers who have asked for a Geographical Indication (GI) tag to safeguard their product and promote its unique regional identity.[2]
Production edit
The lac, a resin secreted by lac insects, is sourced from regions like Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.[2] The artisans begin by boiling the lac in water to make it pliable. This softened lac is then shaped and coloured, with red, yellow, and green being the base colours used for further combinations. Once shaped and coloured, the lac is heated and blown into a small sphere with the help of a special tool called a Phunkni (blower). The final step involves filling these hollow lac spheres with dry gulal powder before sealing them. The production process is entirely manual and requires skilled artisans.[2]
Holi edit
During Holi celebrations, people throw Gulaal Gotas at each other. Upon impact, the lac shell breaks, releasing the coloured powder and creating an explosion of colour. Compared to throwing loose gulaal powder, Gulaal Gotas offer a more controlled and targeted way to play with colours.[2]
There are concerns about the continuity of this tradition as younger generations may not be as interested in pursuing this craft.[2]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Mehta, Ashish (March 24, 2024). "Social media drives demand for Jaipur's special gulal gota". The Times of India.
- ^ a b c d e f g Kulshrestha, Parul (March 22, 2024). "On Holi, a look at Jaipur's traditional celebrations with 'Gulaal Gota'". Indian Express.
- ^ Tiwari, Khushendra (February 26, 2023). "क्या है गुलाल गोटा, जयपुर की होली को खास बनाने वाली यह परपंरा 400 साल पुरानी" (in Hindi). Navbharat Times.
- ^ Shukla, Richa (March 15, 2024). "Gulaal gota makes a comeback". The Times of India.
- ^ "Rajasthan: Traditional 'Gulal Gota' preparations begin in Jaipur ahead of Holi". Asian News International. March 21, 2024.
- ^ "Muslim families busy making gulal gota for Holi". The Times of India. March 23, 2024.