In Vadodara,kite-maker strings communal harmony with tazia

Vasant Pawar,55,a resident of Bhaiswada area,has not only mastered the art of building these tazias,but also trains the local Muslim youth.

“I make kites throughout the year. It essentially requires a tough hand at bending bamboo sticks. Making tazias is quite similar,but it needs imagination to recreate pictures of the Mazar of Imam Husain in Karbala,” he said.

According to Pawar,he has been making these minarets for about 40 years now. At first,he used to help some traditional Muslim artists in the locality. Later,he began making them himself.

“At first,I only helped the local artists. When I started making individual pieces,more orders started coming in. This year,I have taken only seven orders as it takes about a month to build each tazia perfectly. It requires focus. I didn’t want to make it for the sake of making money,” he said.

Over the years,Pawar began getting orders from more people. Wasim Khan,25,a local youth who has been learning the art of making tazia from Pawar this year,said,“I have learnt the art of making tazia from Vasant. He is a genius at adding the fine details while decorating these tazias. There are many tazia-makers in the city,but what Vasant makes radiates the holiness of the occasion.”

Tazias,which are made of paper and bamboo,are taken out in a procession on the last day of the mourning period,before being immersed in a local pond.

Ashraf Khan,who leads another group of artists in the locality,is preparing 17 tazias from various parts of the city. Ashraf’s sister Shahnaz Bano says,“Our forefathers used to make tazias,and the art has been passed down through generations. Most people,who have placed orders,will collect their tazias on Sunday.”

This year,the city police have granted permission to about 180 big and small committees to take out tazia processions. Of these,14 have been granted in the sensitive Panigate area. Police commissioner Satish Sharma says,“We have asked the committees to ensure that they maintain law and order. We have banned digital sound systems.”

The VMC held a meeting with the members of the tazia committee on Friday and decided to implement the recommendations of the police,including lighting up the tazia procession route and repairing roads to avoid untoward incident. Sharma has already issued alerts to police stations that oversee Mandvi,Champaner Gate,Adania bridge and Sarasiya Pond,Fatehpura,Lal Akhada,Gendigate,Panigate,Lehripura,Chokhandi,Nyaymandir and Tarsali areas.