Vadodara: Holding its relevance in the contemporary times, the annual 'Gud Gadheda' of the tribals was celebrated with traditional fervour at Jeswada town in Dahod district. The fair, held every year on the fifth day after festival Holi saw people from the tribal community of Gujarat and bordering districts in Madhya Pradesh taking part in large numbers yesterday.
The juncture traditionally witnesses young tribal men and women meeting at the fair to choose their prospective bride and groom.
Held at Dahod, around 160 kms from here, the main attraction during the fair is the 'swayamvar' of its kind competition where men vie to climb up a pole to win it and choose a woman of his choice for marriage.
During the contest, young spinsters dance around a 40-feet wooden pole on the rhythm of the drums, while men gather around the pole and try to move up on it. In between the dancing, the women also beats up the men with sticks.
The one who successfully climbs up the pole, win the competition and gets to choose a woman for marriage. Ramesh Katara, a tribal and native of Jeswada said that it is a tradition that they have been following since ages and has been going on from the ancient time.
A regular visitor at 'Gud Gadheda' fair, Munawar Garbadawala, a general manager at a hotel, said that the fair is still holds its traditional colours despite the change that the tribal community has undergone in all these recent years.
