Surat, March 27 – The Rajasthan Yuva Sangh (Gujarati Marwari Samaj), a social organization actively involved in humanitarian service, cow protection, and the promotion of Rajasthani culture for the past 33 years, is set to celebrate Rajasthan Foundation Day with grandeur on March 30. This year's celebration will be held under the banner of the Guj-Raj Mahotsav at Marudhar Ground in Godadara, starting at 5 PM. The event is expected to bring together thousands of members of the Marwari community settled in Gujarat.
According to the president of Rajasthan Yuva Sangh, Vikram Singh Shekhawat, the organization usually hosts a Phagotsav each year, but due to the tragic fire incident at Shivshakti Market, the celebration was canceled. Instead, the focus has shifted to the Guj-Raj Mahotsav, to honor Rajasthan’s cultural legacy with an array of performances from internationally acclaimed artists and Bollywood playback singers. The lineup includes the Jassu Bissu Party, Kalbeliya dancer Asha Sapera, and singer Kaushalya Ramawat, who will captivate the audience with their traditional performances.
Shekhawat explained that the event aims to connect the Marwari community in Gujarat with the cultural roots of their homeland. One of the highlights of the evening will be a grand Maha Aarti to be held on the first day of Navratri, modeled after the famous Ganga Aarti of Varanasi. It will be conducted by learned priests from Kashi and accompanied by sacred chants. The event will also feature a community pledge promoting water conservation, the Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao initiative, and women empowerment.
A major attraction of the Mahotsav will be a world-record attempt, where 11,000 women dressed in traditional attire will perform the iconic Ghoomar dance in unison. The current record of 6,000 women performing Ghoomar was set in Jaipur, Rajasthan, three years ago. Renowned choreographer Rohit Sharma, who holds the current record, has been training women at various centers across Surat for the past three days. Registrations are open both online and offline, and the response from women has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic.
Vice President Ram Avatar Pareek, Secretary Jagdish Sharma, Treasurer Ramesh Rathi, Bharat Rajpurohit, and Prakash Sirvi are also closely involved in the preparations. Media coordinator Shishpal Ratusaria shared that the Ghoomar initiative has generated significant excitement among women. Volunteers from the Sangh are visiting residential societies to invite members of the community and facilitate registrations. Preparations at Marudhar Ground are in full swing, including the setup of a large mandap, and organizing meetings to coordinate the final arrangements.
The event is not only expected to strengthen the cultural bond between Rajasthan and Gujarat but also aims to foster unity and cultural pride within the community. A traditional dinner will be served to all attendees following the conclusion of the program.
