Sanjhi Utsav celebrates women power, folk art

Efforts are being made to preserve and promote Sanjhi art, a traditional Haryana folk art where intricate designs of a mother goddess are made on walls, primarily using natural materials like cow-dung and clay during the Navratri festival.

Apart from the folk artists and art lovers from different parts of Haryana, the Department of Art and Culture of the state government contribute their mite to keep the rich cultural tradition alive.

With a view to preserve and promote Haryana’s folk art ‘Sanjhi’, the Sanjhi festival organised every year also celebrates the emergence of women power in the state during the recent years.

The name “Sanjhi” is a vernacular derivation of “Sandhya” (evening) as the art is created and worshipped in the evening. The art form originated in ancient times and flourished during the Mughal era, with contemporary artists keeping the tradition alive today. Young girls create these temporary religious icons, singing songs and offering prayers to the goddess for blessings, including a suitable husband.

The art form is rooted in ritual and tradition, with daily veneration and final immersion in water on Dasehra marking the cycle. Traditionally, Sanjhi is made from natural substances like cow-dung, earthen clay, soot and lime. On the first day of Navratri, young girls begin to create the image of the goddess on a wall.The images are often adorned with molded body parts like limbs, ornaments and weapons made by local potters.

The art form culminates in a daily ritual of singing bhajans and performing ‘aarti’ to the goddess, known as Sanjhi Mata. Sanjhi is worshipped by unmarried girls who seek the boon of a good husband.

It is a collaborative community effort where women from the neighborhood gather to sing and offer their adoration.

The art is considered a temporary form and the image is immersed in water on Dasehra, symbolising the impermanence of life.

The state-level Sanjhi Utsav-2025 organised by the Haryana Lok Kala Sangh in collaboration with the Department of Art and Cultural Affairs, Haryana, at Rohtak recently showcased the confluence of women empowerment and folk arts of the state, bringing alive the heritage of Haryanvi culture.

Cash awards were presented to the Sanjhi artists who made the best images.

The first prize of Rs 51,000 was won by Rekha of village Samchana, the second prize of Rs 31,000 by Kaushalya of Janta Colony, Rohtak, and the third prize of Rs 21,000 by Mausam of Singhpur village in the Sanjhi-making competition.

Sakshi, Sweety Malik, Sita, Nisha, Anamika, Nisha Gupta, Monica Sharma, Namita Maan, Chanchal and Ritu were awarded consolation prizes of Rs 2,100 each. The event was inaugurated by eminent Haryanavi artist Raghuvender Malik.

Beautiful tableaux and paintings of the folk art “Sanjhi” were presented by women from different villages and localities. While the participating women made Sanjhi, female artistes and spectators who had come to the festival brought Haryanavi folk culture to life by singing Sanjhi folk songs.

Organised with the aim of preserving cultural traditions and passing them on to the new generation, the festival offers a glimpse of Haryana’s folk culture. Bearing vibrant colours of Haryanvi culture, the event gives out the message of connecting the society with its roots.

The gathering at the event enjoyed the women’s performances set in a musical atmosphere of folk songs and tunes created by Harvinder Malik.

“Young daughters of the participating women helping their mothers to make Sanjhis was especially heart-warming,” said Padma Shri Haryanavi folk artist Mahabir Guddu.