Tazias of Jetpur deserves Worldwide Recognition

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

Jetpur is to India what Chiniot is to Pakistan. Ironically, the entire world knows about Chiniot as a prominent house of oldest and finest tazias, Jetpur is largely known as one of the largest centers for screen and block printing and yarn dyeing workshops. Despite producing the most beautiful tazias in the country, Jetpur is famous for cotton saree manufacturing and also as a major exporter of khanga and kitenge-(fabrics used by native Africans for various use. 

The Gujrat department of tourism has also never attempted to highlight the beauty and craftsmanship of Tazias in Jetpur. This is in sharp contrast to efforts put in by the concerned stakeholders to make Chiniot as world famous center of Tazia making.

In terms of spirit, creativity, devotion and craftsmanship, Jetpur does not lag behind Chiniot. Being a traditional center of screen and block printing, there is no dearth of artists capable of producing most ornate Tazias, using different materials like wood, paper, Bamboos coupled with LEDs for profuse illumination. Preparations for Tazia start in Jetpur at least six months before the arrival of Muharram. Artists carry out most of the works at night being busy with their occupation during daytime. They  work voluntarily, considering it as their pious duty to serve Imam Hussain.

Though scores of tazias are taken out in Jetpur, formerly a princely state of British India and now a municipality of Rajkot district in Gujrat Province, the notables ones have been wending streets of the city for centuries. It is not on record as to former rulers of Jetpur extended any patronage to taziadari or not? But the screen and block printing artists have surely kept the tradition alive since  settlement of their ancestors at Jetpur. They are carrying out the legacy without any expectation  with same  enthusiasm years after years. Jetpur Tazias like other places are taken out in procession on Shab- E- Ashur and taken to Karbala on Yaum-E-Ashur. (The article is based on the inputs given by Mr.Sameer Madarvi on phone. Photos too have also been sent by him. He is President of Madariya Sufi foundation and hails from Jetpur).