Dance and Songs in British Garhwal

British Administration in Garhwal   -174

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History of British Rule/Administration over Kumaun and Garhwal (1815-1947) -194

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            History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -1026

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                              By: Bhishma Kukreti (History Student)

    In the winter, when rainy season cropping, harvesting and thrashing was finished and sowing of ravi crop was over,, Garhwalis used to spend time in entertainment. People in night, used to gather at suitable plain place and they used to sing and dance in chorus. Those were unable to dance and sing used tosit as audience and used to encourage singers and dancers.

    The Vasant Panchami to Chait months was called Geeton ka maina (Month for singing) and people used to dance, sing and play dramas together in night.

     Hudkya ( a kind of damru player) used to come to villages and used to sing (Pawras) ballads. Ballads were based on historical aspects of Garhwal and braves. They used to sing songs in praise of braves from Ajay Pal to present king periods.

  Badi was a entertainment creating caste. Badi and Badan used to come at fair or festive season and Chait month and used to sing and dance.

     Badi used to play a specific act ‘lang’ after every twelve year in each village.

     Badi were bold and used to tease those did not offer them desired gifts.

   Hudkya, badi, Bhat were uneducated poets and had a specialty for illustrating past and present. Thie songs are still in uses.

  

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References  

1-Shiv Prasad Dabral ‘Charan’, Uttarakhand ka Itihas, Part -7 Garhwal par British -Shasan, part -1, page- 343-456

2- Atkinson, Himalayan Districts Vol.3

 3- Asiatic Researches vol 6

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Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India,bjkukreti@gmail.com 14/9/201710History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -1027

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*** History of British Rule/Administration over British Garhwal (Pauri, Rudraprayag, and Chamoli1815-1947) to be continued in next chapter

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(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)

 History of British Garhwal, History of Devalgarh Garhwal; History of Badhan Garhwal; History of Barasyun Garhwal; History of Chandpur Garhwal; History of Chaundkot Garhwal; History of  Gangasalan Garhwal;  History of Mallasalan Garhwal;  History ofTallasaln Garhwal; History of Dashauli Garhwal; History of Nagpur Garhwal;Dresses in British Garhwal.