Ginani holds significant cultural importance as an annual harvest tradition observed in the valleys of
Hunza and
Nagar in
Northern Pakistan. The celebration occurs on the summer
solstice
A solstice is the time when the Sun reaches its most northerly or southerly sun path, excursion relative to the celestial equator on the celestial sphere. Two solstices occur annually, around 20–22 June and 20–22 December. In many countries ...
, marking the 21st of June, the longest day of the year.
History
Ginani is observed as a celebration of a crop that has come into a position to be harvested. Hunza/Nagar valleys were once remote mountainious valleys, that was subjected to sporadic famines. So the farmers celebrated that their crops are not damaged by extreme weather conditions and they can survive the harsh seasons coming their way. Before 1974, the emperor of the Hunza Nagar state arranged the ‘Ginani’ celebrations in his court.
Ginani celebrations
In Hunza the celebrations starts around ten days before the Ginani. Musicians at
Altit Fort play tunes that are called ''Hareeps'' in
Burushaski, for ten days till the Ginani day. The festival featured "Taj Poshi" ceremonies,
polo
Polo is a stick and ball game that is played on horseback as a traditional field sport. It is one of the world's oldest known team sports, having been adopted in the Western world from the game of Chovgan (), which originated in ancient ...
matches,
tug-of-war competitions, musical performances, and food distribution.
[
On the day of Ginani, people gather at the a place called ''Chattaq,'' near the royal palace. In the case of Hunza, people gather at chattaq located at Baltit Fort.
Mir is presented and visits the fields of wheat, where butter is spread over the wheat plants. Prayers are offered for prosperity and for betterment of community. A bunch of wheat plants is taken with them. Wheat grains are extracted from husk and cooked.
Cooked wheat grains are put into ''Diltar ( Lassi),'' which is offered to the people gathered there.
Then comes the musical and dance performances. Mir dances first to the music. Then music is played, in a specific order tribes dance to the music.
Earlier, for most of the times Bitans used to perform at Ginani, to foretell the future on the orders of Mir.]
See also
* Hunza Valley
* Nagar Valley
* Shamanism in Hunza
* Mir of Hunza
References
{{Reflist
Harvest festivals
Hunza
History of Gilgit Agency
Unofficial observances
Cultural festivals in Pakistan