Bhishma Kukreti
There is no tendency among Garhwalis for doing research on the origin of folk dance of Garhwal. Barring Dr Chatak, Dr Nautiyal very few scholars touch the subject of origin of various Garhwali folk dances. Lately, a couple of scholars as Dr Baluni, Dr Hatwal came in the field but sorry to say that they did pay no attention on finding the history of dance and song as time has come to find the origin of each folk dance of Garhwal.
Chaufula, Chaunfula or चौफुल़ा (ळ +आ ) or चौंफुल़ा (ळ+आ) is one of the popular dance song sequence of Garhwal and Kumaun. Chaufula, Chaunfula or चौफुल़ा(ळ +आ ) or चौंफुल़ा (ळ+आ) is agroup dance and there is no restriction of genders. Both the genders can participate in the dance. However, mostly the dance is performed by females. In fact, as far as group dance is concerned, there is no restriction of gender in such dances as mentioned in Bharat Natyshashtra . Bharat uses Pindi for group dances (B N.S 4- 270) but there is no mention of restriction for any gender in Pindi dances. It seems that from the early age, in India, group dances were for females and males together.
Folk Stories behind Chaufula, Chaunfula or चौफुल़ा (ळ +आ ) or चौंफुल़ा(ळ+आ) Dnace
Dr Shiva Nand Nautiyal states that from many stories in Garhwal, the two popular stories are relevant know the origin of Chaufula, Chaunfula or चौफुल़ा(ळ +आ ) or चौंफुल़ा (ळ+आ) dance-song in Garhwal.
Shiv Parvati Marriage
Chaunfula or Chaufula means blossom in all direction and other meaning is spread in all four direction. It is believed that daughter of Himalaya started Chaufula, Chaunfula or चौफुल़ा (ळ +आ ) or चौंफुल़ा (ळ+आ) in Garhwal.
It is said that to please lord Shiva, Godess Parvati built a ‘Chaunri’ - a square or round stage of mud and stone. Parvati and her friends danced around ‘Chaunri’ together and sung the praising and love songs By the dance and songs, flowers bloomed around ‘ Chaunri’. By the sdance, song and bloom of various types of flowers, lord Shiva became cheerful and agreed for marrying Parvati. Later on, Shiva married with Parvati.
Due to dancing in all direction and blooming of flowers in all direction, the people named this dance sequence as Chaufula, Chaunfula orचौफुल़ा (ळ +आ ) or चौंफुल़ा (ळ+आ) or flowers in all four direction. Another meaning of Chaunfula is spreading in all four direction and this is related to happiness spread in all direction after the dance of Parvati and her friends..
The stories of Fairy , Sirens or Nymph अन्छेरी सम्बन्धित लोक कथा
अन्छेरी (Anchheri) or fairy, nymphs are commonly talked about in Garhwal specially upper Garhwal. There is story that in the hills, Nymphs or fairies used to build ‘ Chaunri’ and used to dance and sing around ‘ Chaunri’. As soon as they finished the dance and songs, the flowers used to bloom around ‘ Chaunri’ . Due to blooming of flowers around ‘ Chaunri’ the Garhwali folks named as “ Chaufula, Chaunfula or चौफुल़ा (ळ +आ ) or चौंफुल़ा (ळ+आ) ‘ for this type of dance-song.
Time of Origin of Chaufula, Chaunfula or चौफुल़ा (ळ +आ ) or चौंफुल़ा(ळ+आ)
The scholars as Dr Shiva Nand Nautiyal compares Chaufula or Chaunfula dance with Bihu dance of Assam and Garba dance of Gujrat. However, historians will agree that Chaufula, Chaunfula or चौफुल़ा (ळ +आ ) or चौंफुल़ा (ळ+आ) did not come in the form of Bihu of Assam as Bihu itself was introduced in Assam in the seventeenth century (Anil Saikia,, 2011, the learned scholar of Assamese Folk literature). Therefore, it cant be said that Chaufula came in Garhwal from Assama and in any case , there was less migration in Garhwal from Assam.
Kalidas describes in Jhumelo of Garhwal or Jambhalika dance in Vikramorshsheesh ( 4-450 and Raghuvansh ( 9-35). It means Jhumelo was popular before 2000 years in garhwal. However, Jhumelo is more developed dance than Chaunfula dance in terms of performance sand body acts. This indicates that prior to Jhumelo , Chaufula, Chaunfula or चौफुल़ा (ळ +आ ) or चौंफुल़ा (ळ+आ) existed in Garhwal.
The literature of Kalidas indicate or prove that Chaufula, Chaunfula or चौफुल़ा (ळ+आ ) or चौंफुल़ा (ळ+आ) was existing in Garhwal before 2000 years.
There are similarities between Chaufula, Chaunfula or चौफुल़ा (ळ +आ ) or चौंफुल़ा (ळ+आ) dance and Dandiya , Garba and Ras dances. Dandiya, Ras and Garba dances are devoted to mother Durga or Naudurga. However, the sect Durga did not flourish before fifth century from popularity point of view. Therefore it can’t be said that Chaufula, Chaunfula or चौफुल़ा (ळ +आ ) or चौंफुल़ा(ळ+आ) was the form of Garba or dandiya or Ras.
Even by studying the history of Uttarakhand in Dr Shiv Prasad Dabral’s Uttarakhand ka Itihas ( 2nd and 3rd parts) it may be said that Chaufula, Chaunfula or चौफुल़ा (ळ +आ ) or चौंफुल़ा (ळ+आ) in its primitive form was existing in Garhwal before first century. Dr Dabral’s study state that Shaivism came in Garhwal before than Durgaism or Markendiy Puranism . Historian will agree that Purans related to Shiva are far earlier than Markendiy Puran,. Durgaism became popular only after creation of Markendiy Puran . since, the story of Chaufula, Chaunfula or चौफुल़ा (ळ +आ ) or चौंफुल़ा (ळ+आ) is realted to Shiv-Parvati, it may be said that there is no relation of origin of Chaufula, Chaunfula or चौफुल़ा (ळ +आ) or चौंफुल़ा (ळ+आ) with Garba, Ras Dandiya and Behu,
It may be concluded that Chaufula, Chaunfula or चौफुल़ा (ळ +आ ) or चौंफुल़ा (ळ+आ) was existing in Khas , Kanaiti or Kainturai dynasties in Garhwal may be in its primitive style. Slowly, slowly the people developed the dance and today’s Chaufula, Chaunfula or चौफुल़ा (ळ +आ ) or चौंफुल़ा (ळ+आ) is found in refined form than when it was originated
References:
1-Dr Shiva Nand Nautiyal
2- Bharat Natya Shashtra 4- 270
3- Anil Saikia - Times Of Indian May 2011
4- dr Dabral, shiv Prasad ‘ Uttarakhand ka Itihas part 2nd and 3rd
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