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Sanjhi is a festival of Goddess celebrated before Dussehra in Haryana. Mother Goddess (Sanjhi ) is worshipped mostly by, unmarried girls. An idol of women (sanjhi) is created out of malleable mud moulded into various shapes. These shapes include stars, sun, moon, face of the Goddess etc in diverse colours and Its is decorated with clothes and ornaments. The star-studded collage is attached to the wall of the house, facing south. In some places, a picture of Sanjhi is painted on the wall. This art of Sanjhi making is not sophisticated. But it has a unique flavour and a native expression.

Sanjhi installation is done in the later half of the Asuj month in Shukl Paksh, ie, during early October or late September.The festival of Goddess start 10 days before Dussehra and the girls sing songs in praise of Sanjhi and promise to appease the Mother Goddess by offering presents on all the festival days.

Sanjhi collage on wooden board

Face of Goddess Sanjhi adorned with jewelery

The girls believe that by appeasing Sanjhi they will get a good husband. In one of the songs, Sanjhi is asked about her basic needs — what would she like to wear or eat. In another song, the girls promise to appease her by offering presents. This group activity is held every evening for nine days in front of the sanjhi image put on walls. On the tenth day of Dussehra the images from walls, along with cow dung used as adhesive, are scratched and removed. Only Only the head of the figure is securely kept within a small earthen vessel whose belly has been ridden with several holes and having lighten earthen lamp. In the evening, the

girls carry the vessel with image on their heads along with devotional songs and float their lighted pots with their respective earthen vessels in the nearby village pond or canal.

At night worshiping Goddess SANJHI before her last adobe

Next…..!
Village lads, armed with lathis, eagerly wait to complete this ritual. They dive into the pond and hit the pots to break them, to stop the bowls from reaching the other end. A legend says that none of the bowls should float across the pond and touch the other end, otherwise misfortune would fall on the village.

We people living in Urban areas now shedding these festivals…

But this art form is now again becoming popular and finds place in the famous Surajkund Crafts Mela. The images of Sanjhi are suggestive of Durga, Uma and Katyayani. In the recent past, people have tried to keep this ancient festival alive. The presence of intellectuals amongst them has encouraged the rural folk. Their art, which was till recently, known only in Haryana, rural areas of Delhi and nearby areas, has gained some recognition. This folk art of yore has attracted attention of art lovers who, through studio workshops or other promotional techniques, are trying to popularize it.

Happy Dusshera!