Sanjhi: Festival of Haryana

Sanjhi (mother goddess) is widely celebrated festival of Haryana, Rajasthan and part of  Punjab and Madhya Pradesh, usually created and worshipped by unmarried girls. The idol or more preciously the image (fixed facing south) of Sanjhi is made by mud and it is molded into various shapes. In some places, the image of Sanjhi is simply painted on the wall. These shapes includes stars, moon, sun and face of the goddess etc. Sanjhi created on the first day of the moon in Kartika month. 

This art is quite unique and ancient. The images of Sanjhi is said to be equal as Durga, Uma and Katyayani, Sarka Devi is mainly worshipped in these days. Many interpretations exist, about Sanjhi. First is Sanjhi is daughter of Vishwakarma, the divine architect and wife of the Sun god. She is also the mother of twin Ashwins. Another leagend says Sanjhi is Sanjhya, the mind born daughter of Brahma. People also says Sanjhi is the pictograph drawn by Krishna to please Radha.

In the recent past, people have tried to keep this ancient festival alive, the celebrations of Sanjhi encouraged the folk art and music. There are some other rituals observed by girls during the 9 days of Sanjhi festival. Devotional songs are sung just after dusk. Lighted earthen lamps (diyas) are held by adolescent girls who assemble around Sanjhi. They sing chorus songs, that are centuries old, to please the goddess.

some songs of the Sanjhi festivals are: 

1) Sanjhi sanjha he kanagat parle paar,
dekhan chalo he sanjha ke lanihar!

2) Meri sajhi ke oor chhor, phool rahi kawain!

On the tenth day of Dassehra, the images, from the walls, are scratched and removed and kept inside a small earthen vessel, which has several holes at the bottom. In the evening, the girls lit small diyas inside their respective earthen vessels float it in the village pond.

PS: Pictures are not mine and post is based on the knowledge given by people of Haryana