Pakistan, at its core, is a collection of diverse cultures that co-exist. From Eid to weddings, there is nothing that unites the people of Pakistan like a festival, something to celebrate, a chance to be happy.
When we talk about festivals and cultures, we must reminisce about the traditions and their significance.
For as long as I can remember, flowers have always been a significant part and a symbol of festivity, specifically flower garlands or gajray.
A gajra, made out of flowers, mainly jasmine and roses, is a common accessory found in the culture of the subcontinent. Its history dates back to way before the partition of the subcontinent.
Flower garlands were first mentioned in the Vedas (between 1500-500 BCE), the oldest scriptures in Hinduism, which are considered to be divinely revealed knowledge. Although the term ‘gajra’ is not explicitly mentioned in the Vedas, the Vedic texts do, however, depict flower garlands as offerings to deities in Hindu ceremonial rituals.
Similarly, the significance of flower garlands was amplified in one of the epic Sanskrit narratives, the Mahabharata. Here flower garlands are depicted as ornaments worn by gods, elephants, and kings, symbolizing respect and tradition.
While these transcripts describe flower garlands as symbols of Hindu rituals instead of a cultural ritual, there is a cultural practice that has evolved in the past centuries to eventually take the form of a regional tradition involving ‘gajra.’ This tradition is called ‘The Solah Shringar’, a 16-step bridal adornment practice formalized around the Medieval period, mostly associated with Hindu weddings. The gajra is one of the last steps in this tradition where flower garlands are adorned in the hair of the bride, the jasmine symbolizing physical beauty and purity.
Apart from written evidence on the use of flower garlands or gajra, there is evidence of its use during the Gupta Empire (from the mid-3rd century to the mid-6th century CE). The use of jasmine gajra, which was worn around the bun, is evident in paintings that date back to the Gupta Empire.
Likewise, gajras and flower garlands were of ample importance in the Mughal Empire, especially in the lavish court life of the Mughal Emperors.
The use of ‘gajra’ in the subcontinent was limited to it being worn around the bun or weaved through braids and was typically worn in religious Hindu ceremonies or weddings. In present-day Pakistan, however, gajras are mostly worn on the wrists and seldom in the hair, which is still a norm in Indian culture. A possible reason for this significant difference between the two countries in the way gajras are traditionally worn may be linked to the contrast in religious practices. As Pakistan is a Muslim-majority region, most women cover their hair, thus leading to an alteration in the original practice.
The significance of this ‘Gajra Culture,’ however, has evolved over the years.
In present-day Pakistan, the culture and significance of gajras have expanded in various forms. There are religious ceremonies like milaad, where houses are adorned with flower garlands, contrasting with white sheets, and women come together wearing gajras, a symbol of virtue and purity. On religious festivals like Eid or events like weddings, gajras are worn by brides and guests alike. Mostly made of jasmine and roses, these are a sign of joy and happiness, roses signifying the beginning of a blooming love.
Apart from festivities and ceremonies, the gajra culture in Pakistan has evolved into a more casual tradition. It is not confined to formal events anymore. Outside popular areas, beside toll stations, at a red light in traffic, and in the busiest bazaars, you see someone standing with gajras made out of fresh flowers, almost sold out by the end of each day.
From a confession of love, a symbol of friendship, a fresh start, a form of self-expression to alterations of gajras that keep the cultural practice and community interactions alive, modern society keeps the significance of this tradition intact.