Ranihat Ni Jan Gajesingh : A Garhwali Thadya Circle Folk Dance Song

Ranihat Ni Jan Gajesingh : A Garhwali Thadya Circle Folk Dance Song रणिहाट नि जाण गजेसिंग : एक लोकगाथा युक्त गढ़वाली थड्या लोकनृत्यगीत

Ranihat Ni Jan Gajesingh : A Garhwali Thadya Circle Folk Dance Song

Narration by : Bhishma Kukreti

‘Thadya ‘ dance song is very popular in Garhwal from the centuries. The historians as Dr Shiv Prasad Dabral, the cultural pundit as Dr Shiva Nand Nautiyal believe that the tradition of dancing in circle and singing had been there in Garhwal before Gupta era and might have been developed in Khas era. There are proofs that the ‘Thadya’ a circle dance-song was popular at the time of Great Poet Kalidas in Garhwal.

The Thadya is group dance-song and performed in circle with many variations.

The ‘ Thadya’ Dance-Song

The dance-song is performed in fairs, festivals, Geetun maina (month of songs), or at any time for pleasures. The place should be plain and wide enough for group dance.

There is no restriction of class or caste for performing the dance-song.

In month of songs (16^th March to a5th April) , the dance-song is performed in evening after finishing all works and dinner. In fairs and festivals the Thadya dance- song could be performed at day time too.

First the dancers (only males or only females, males and females together, or children) make circle and keep hands on each other’s shoulders. The dancers depending upon the dance variety can put hands on the back of each other. However, depending upon the numbers of dancers, the group is divided into two groups. The first group just moves their feet and dance-sing. The second group stands there and only slaps the earth slowly by feet. When first group stop, the second groups start singing and dancing.

The second part of Thadya is the dancers leave their hands from the shoulders and put their both hands on each other’s back. The every dancer catches hold tightly the hands of every third’s dancers. Then the dance and song start. At this point the dance is more artistic and with fine rhythm. The face expressions of dancers depend upon the song contents and demand of story line.

The fourth stage of Thadya is dancers bringing emotions on their faces. In between the sequences of steps also change as per the need of the song and dance as there steps ahead and one step back. Lastly the group is divided and a group of two dancers dance together. There is variation of speed in dance in between the dance too.

The Gaje Sing Thadya dance is performed by males or females or together too. However, when the male dancers perform the dance, the dance is very speedy. The song is a story of one of the bravest personalities of Garhwal.

रणिहाट नि जाण गजेसिंग : एक लोकगाथा युक्त गढ़वाली थड्या लोकनृत्यगीत

(गढवाली सामुदायक व सामूहिक सामाजिक लोक नृत्यगीत , उत्तराखंडी सामुदायकव सामूहिक सामाजिक लोक नृत्यगीत )

(Garhwali Folk Dance-song, Uttarakhandi Folk Dance-Song, Himalayan Folk Dance Song)

Mother of Gaje Singh Advices

रणिहाट नि जाण गजे सिंग Don’t visit Ranihat , Hey! Gaje Singh

मेरो बुल्युं मानिले गजे सिंग Take my advice, Hey ! Gaje singh

हळजोत का दिन गजे सिंग Today is plough festival, Hey! Gaje Singh

तू हौन्सिया बैख गजे सिंग You’re love admirer, Hey! Gaje Singh

रणिहाट नि जाण गजे सिंग Don’t visit Rranihat , Hey! Gaje Singh

तेरा बाबू का बैरी गजे सिंग They’re your father’s enemy, Hey! Gaje Singh

रणिहाट नि जाण गजे सिंग Don’t visit Rranihat , Hey! Gaje Singh

त्वे ठौरि मारला गजे सिंग Brutally, they will kill you, Hey! Gaje Singh

तेरा कानू कुंडल गजे सिंग You’re putting earrings, Hey! Gaje Singh

तेरा हाथुं धगुला गजे सिंग You’re putting wrist band, Hey! Gaje Singh

त्वे राणी लूठ्ली गजे सिंग The queen will loot you, Hey! Gaje Singh

रणिहाट नि जाण गजे सिंग Don’t visit Ranihat , Hey! Gaje Singh

बैरियों का बधाण गजे सिंग Not to visit enemy’s place, Hey! Gaje Singh

सार्युं का डिसाण गजे सिंग There will be spiky bed, Hey! Gaje Singh

बड़ो बाबू का बेटा गजे सिंग you are son of great father, Hey! Gaje Singh

रणिहाट नि जाण गजे सिंग Don’t visit Ranihat , Hey! Gaje Singh

Gaje Singh Replies:

मर्द मरी जाण गजे सिंग Man dies, Hey! Gaje Singh

बोल रैय़ी जाण गजे सिंग His acts live on words for centurieslive,Hey! Gaje Singh

(गीत स्रोत्र : पीताम्बर दत्त देवरानी (लंगूर पट्टी ) एवम डा शिवानन्द नौटियाल किपुस्तक ' गढवाल के लोक नृत्यगीत )