Sunday, February 12, 2012

Shivji bihane chale


Recall the old song describing the marriage of Lord Shiva: Shivji bihane chale, palaki sajayi ke, babhuti lagai ke… Well, something of that order is still practiced in the hills of Himachal Pradesh. Inspired by the most celebrated couple of Hindu mythology, the love saga of Shiv-Parvati forms a part and parcel of the marriages in the Gaddi community, popular as ‘Shiv Vivahs’.
Welcome to Kangra-Bharmour, where lines between mythology and traditions get blurred and marriage becomes an elaborate affair. Whenever there is a marriage, the groom has to take a matrimonial test, wherein he takes the guise of Lord Shiva by rubbing ash all over his body.
His sisters, brothers and sister-in-laws try to convince him by highlighting the benefits of a marriage so that he gives up his ascetic lifestyle he plans to lead like that of Lord Shiva.“The boy says that he am a yogi, who lives in the Himalyas and cannot get married. His family and relatives beat him with plants even as he makes circles in the backyard. The third round is the most crucial. If the spirit of lord Shiva persists, the boys runs to a Shiv temple, choosing to become a jogi and it is believed that Shiv’s will has taken over him,” says Joginder Charak, a resident of Nagri in Palampur.
This year itself, there were reports of two such cases _ in Jia and Khamiwal _ where the would-be-grooms fled from the ceremony, rejecting the institution of marriage. If the comes out of Shivji’s ‘awe’ he gets ready to take a barat to the girl’s house and the marriage is officially on. If due to any eventuality, the groom is unable to accompany the barat, a katara (sharp-edged weapon) is sent as his representative and the bride takes pheras with it and stays with it till she is handed over to the groom, says Kul Prakash, a resident of Chamba district.
“For the gaddi community, Shiv-Parvati are the ideal couple personified and that is why the entire marriage ceremony is performed the way Lord Shiva is known to have gone about his marriage in the Vedas,’ he adds. In the olden times the marriage used to go on for days and the baraat is served with meat and hooch. There was also a practice to marry off two sisters on the same day. But with life becoming much faster, many practices have been done away with. “Earlier, the boy and girls were married in their teens and the marriage ceremony was virtually performed all over again when they were brought together on attaining adulthood. But this has stopped now,’ adds M.R.Dalel, a resident of Bharmour.
When the barat finally comes back, a ‘nuwala’, Lord Shiva’s worship is organised by the groom’s family and relatives and friends converge to have another round of festivities. A large section of the gaddi community continue to be deep rooted in their age-old traditions and this form of elaborate ‘Shiv Vivah’ or ‘Gaddi Vivah’ is still prevalent in district Kangra and Chamba, especially bharmour, Banikhet, Tisa and Dalhousie.

Friday, January 20, 2012

Chaurasi Temple

Location : Near Chamba, Himachal Pradesh
Worshipped Deities : Goddess Lakshmi, Manimahesh, Ganesha, and Nar Singh
Chaurasi Temple is situated in a spectacular hill station and former Chamba capital called Bharmaur at a distance of 65 kilometer from Chamba. This 9th century temple is considered an immensely important from the point of view of religion.
This ancient temple is located amidst lush greenery and picturesque landscapes. This, in fact, is a conglomerate of a number of temples that are known to contain chaurasi or eighty four shivalingams. These phallus temples are quiet sacred to the Hindu devotees for whom lingam is a source of fertilization and sacredness. Chaurasi Temple houses several deities' sculptures including Lakshmi, Manimahesh, Ganesha and Narsimha gods.
The scenic beauty of these temples is a source of attraction for the tourists. Those who come to visit Kullu valley must not miss the chance to come to Bharmaur. Due to the presence of innumerable lingams, this place is better known as "Shiv Bhumi". As the land is inhabited by Gaddi tribals, the temple complex is also known by the name "Gadderan".
Legends Related to Temple :
According to legends, the sacred land of Bharmaur was visited by eighty four saints who were commonly called Chaurasis. The king of Bharmaur, Sahil Verma, greeted Chuarasis with warmth and hospitality. Pleased by his behavior, Chaurasis gave him the blessing that he would become father of ten sons and a daughter. In order to commemorate their divine visit, a number of shrines have been built near the temple complex.
Today, Chaurasi Temple has become one of the most visited sites by the pilgrims who march to this divine place in order to have self realization and a feeling of recluse.

Common festivals of Gaddi

Baishakhi: Baisakhi or 'Bisu' is celebrated on the Ist of month of mid April "Baisakh" by the people of Gaddi Tribe. They take cakes of Bhares and wheat flour on this day.
Sair: "Sair" is celebrated by Gaddi Tribe with great enthusiasm on 1st of Asuj (Sept-Oct) month. Meat is eaten and some even take "Sur"(homemade beer) & Babrus of wheat flour are eaten with variety of vegetables. All of them go to their relatives, specially married daughters visit theri parents. This day is considered as the end of rainy season. And new clothes are purchased for this occasion.
Patroru Sagrand: "Patroru Sagrand" is celebrated by Gaddi Tribe on 1st of Bhadon (August-September) month. On this day `Kachalu leaves' roled with `Besan' (gram dal flour) are fried in oil and Babrus is even eaten on this day.
Lohri: "Lohri" is also celebrated by Gaddi Tribes. `Khichari' of rice and Mashed Dal is eaten with Desi Ghee and curd on this day.
Shivratri: favourite festival of Gaddis is Shivaratri as it is associated with Lord Shiva in the month of Phalgun (Feb-March). Some Gaddi Tribe keeps fast and cereals are not taken by many persons

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Sabo Bharmoriya Rumail Singh


Jota Par Liskua Rumail Singh


Dhiduya Dhan vo Charda


Shambua


Bain Tah Bari Rumail Singh


Sanja Ra Baji Geh Panjh


Dhantarua


Jeena Kangre Da


Jootye Pyuraa Heena Parampara


Roj - Roj maame re Chaluri Parampara


Dolha Mera Bhangi Baa Sharaabi Parampara Sunil Rana

The song is sung by Sunil Rana.

Paangi Pakki Thangi Parampara


Kaacha Charde Ya Puhaarda Jo Parampara

Aak Kumdi Ra Mela Parampara


Deerenua Pit Geerenua By Sunil Rana

Parampara Deerenua Pit Geerenua 

 

A brief Introduction

Gaddis are a community  living mainly in the Himachal Pradesh . They are Hindus and belong to several castes including Ahir,Brahmin, Rajput mugyal,thakur jaryal, Dhangar/Gaderiya, Khatri, Rana and Thakur.
They are widely respected for their honesty, friendliness and peaceful lifestyle. They have great faith in Gods and Goddesses especially Lord Shiva. The language (dialect) spoken within the community is Gaddi. Old people used the Tankri script. Crime is almost unknown in Gaddi villages. Gaddi is a generic term used for all of the indigenous population of the Bharmaur area of Chamba district and some regions of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Gaddis include Savarnas - such as Brahman, Rajput, Khatri, Thakur, Rathi and the non–savarnas like Hali, Rihare and Dom Although all are categorised as scheduled tribes by virtue of either their living in a scheduled area or having semi-nomadic lifestyle, the non-savarnas are included separately as scheduled castes. There is custom prevalent among the savarna of calling themselves as Gaddi whereas calling others by their respective caste names. Most common Rajput Gaddi Castes are: Chouhans, mugyal,Lalhals, Purhans, Sanu, Bersain, Jaryal, Sanjan etc.
The Basua on first Baisakh, the Patroru on first Bhadon, the Sair on first Assuj, the Lohri on first Magh, and the Dholru on first Chet are the fairs they celebrate.