The magnificent Rann of Kutch and its diverse tribes!
You’ve probably heard of the beautiful Rann of Kutch and its sparkling white sands. Located in the Thar Desert in the Kachchh district of western Gujarat, it is said to be the world’s largest salt desert! Every year, thousands of tourists are drawn to the vast expanses of the salty white sand. The locals even hold a 3-month-long festival called the ‘Rann Utsav’ showcasing their delicacies, culture and hospitability.
However, did you also know that the white desert is home to several tribal groups from all over the world? Yes, many tribes from countries, including Pakistan, Russia, Turkey and Iran, now reside here. Each tribe has added its own touch to textiles using distinctive embroidery techniques and motif vocabularies. Keep reading to learn more about them.
The Meghwal tribe
The Meghwals are thought to have originated in Sindh, which is now a part of south Pakistan. They are one of the popular tribes, famous for their flamboyant traditional outfits. They use tiny round mirrors in their embroidery, distinguishing them from other tribes. You must have seen ghagras adorned with mirrors and worn during Navratri. You now know that they are the signature style of the Meghwal tribe. Their jewellery is also quite impressive. Women wear a large nose ring with precious stones such as rubies, sapphires and emeralds. Even the interiors of their houses are decorated with small mirrors! The mud walls of the house are curved in different shapes and covered with white clay and mirrors. Their traditional house is called ‘Bhunga’.
The Jat tribes
The Jats of Kutch are shepherds who have lived in various places before settling in Kutch. They are said to have originated from Iran and travelled to Sindh before making it to Kutch. The Jats are also well-known for their embroidery and jewellery, but their designs are more diverse. This is because the tribe is further divided into three major groups based on where they live. So, the designs on clothes also vary from subgroup to subgroup. Some women are seen wearing nose rings that hang from a lock of hair across their brow. The Jat women look truly beautiful wearing garments with bright colours, bodice patterns, long veils covering their braided hair and massive silver necklaces!
The Ahir tribe
The women of the Ahir tribe are also known for their brightly coloured embroidered outfits with large floral motifs and mirrors. But the Ahir tribe is not an ordinary tribe like the others. The Ahirs consider themselves to be Lord Krishna’s direct descendants. How intriguing! They believe that their ancestors lived in Mathura and accompanied Lord Krishna to Dwarka where he fought the evil god. Eventually, they relocated from Mathura to Kutch and are now farmers. Although many members of this tribe have become educated and have abandoned farming, you will still see people dressed in stunning attire displaying their roots in the Rann of Kutch.
The Rabari tribe
The Rabari people are the most recognisable tribe in Kutch. No one knows where they originated from. Historians believe they arrived in the 4th century from the Iranian plateau to Rajasthan and then moved to Kutch. Some believe their origins can be traced back to Lord Shiva’s self-mortification in the Himalayas! Their way of life is also very different from that of the other tribe. They live like gipsies, travelling from village to village while carrying their belongings on the back of a camel.