Fasting and Festivity: Jaipur’s artisans craft Holi magic through Ramzan nights

Jaipur: Muslim families keeping Roza during the holy month of Ramzan are burning the midnight oil to make the festival of colours, Holi, more colourful.
Most of the Manihars (those who make bangles) are working tirelessly at their houses at Maniharon Ka Rasta in the walled city of Jaipur to make colourful ‘gulaal gota'. They divided the work into two shifts: one from 11 pm to 4 am, the period when they could break their fast, and also during 2 pm to 7 pm, the period when they are fasting. For the past two years, gulaal gota saw a resurgence in popularity, thanks to the influence of social media.
TOI Sunday visited Maniharon Ka Rasta in the walled city to meet the families who are keeping this tradition of celebrating Holi with gulaal gota. As Rehana Khan filled dry coloured powder (gulal) into paper thin bags of lac to make ‘gulal gota' at her home in the Walled City, she counted her day's produce. "Thankfully, I could make a good quantity. We will again sit to work from 11 pm and work till 4 am," said Safia Khan while pointing to her sister Mariyam that they can now break their fast as Iftaar time has started (the time when the fast is broken every evening).
Gulaal gotas filled with herbal and organic gulal are in high demand during Holi. "My family, having four brothers, their sons, and my sisters and their family members make the gulaal gota, which I tell you are in huge demand," said Amjad Khan, a Manihar in the walled city.
On the popularity of gulaal gota in the past few years, Khan said, "We are getting demand from neighbouring states, including Haryana and Delhi, as well. I think due to social media, the youngsters are also inclined towards gulaal gota. You just throw it on the back of some person, and it breaks, and colour is spilled over."
Since a lot of blowing is needed to give the gota a shape of spherical balls, isn't it tiring, especially while observing Roza? "We have been doing it for years. Roza as well as this work is our duty," Khan said. "Our family has preserved this craft for centuries. It is not just a business for us; it is our heritage," said Mohammad Shamsher, a seventh-generation maker of gulaal gotas at Nehru Bazaar.
"During Ramzan, our faith guides us, but so does our dedication to our craft. We work tirelessly to ensure Holi brings joy to all," he added with a smile. Ahmad Khan, another gulaal gota maker, says crafting gulal gotas requires not just skill. "It is an honour to continue this legacy that has been passed down uninterrupted from our forefathers and enriches Jaipur's festivals and heritage," he said.