Bhukki Rai Gyaun Bwali : A Representative Garhwali Children’s Folk Poetic Drama
Bhishma Kukreti
(Garhwali Children’s Folk Songs, Uttarakhandi Children’s Folk Rhymes, Himalayan Children’s Folk Poetry)
While classifying Garhwali children’s folk songs, Dr Nand Kishor Dhoundiyal and Dr Manorama Dhoundiyal placed children’s folk poetic dramas under the division of amusing and Entertaining Garhwali Children’s Folk song. However, this write is witness that children of Garhwal play folk poetic drama very frequently in ‘Gor ma ‘(while grazing the animals in grassland), in ‘Goth Jagwalan ‘ (while watching the animals at Goth), Geetun Maina (at the month of songs and dances) or at any free time. The author can say that the critics of Garhwali folk literature for children should place ‘Children’s folk poetic drama’ place with separate heading.
There are many types of folk poetic dramas played by children in Garhwal.
1- Mixed : Where the children choose various songs and sing as part of drama. In this genre , the children first decide who will sing which song. Usually the old aged children are expert to adjust the songs that a story is built in the dram. For example, one child will play the role of teacher and other children will play the roles of students, then the teacher will ask questions as alphabets, counting etc in poetic language (created by them) and other children will sing the related poetries. In between the teacher will act teacher and may show mistakes or may insult the singers. Or the children would play drama of a family and then they sing various songs related to family.
2- Exclusive subject: the children sing exclusive poetic drama song and play drama accordingly.
The following Garhwali (Indian) -children’ folk poetic drama is one act and least time consuming drama. The dram could be played among two children or many children
भुक्की रै ग्यों ब्याळी :जहां गढ़वाली बालनाट्य गीत चलता है ,नाचता है... ..
(गढ़वाली लोक बालगीत , उत्तराखंडी बालगीत , हिलालाई लोकबालगीत, भारतीय लोक बालगीत )
भुक्की रै ग्यों ब्याळी I was hungry, yesterday
पधनुं करों की स्याळी Sister in law of Padhan (village head)
स्वाल़ा लायी ब्याळी Brought Swala yesterday
नौ मण कंडाळी खै ग्यों Ate nine tons Kandali
सौ मण बसींगो Ate hundred tons Basingo
नौ मण का अरसा खैने Ate nine tons arsa
सौ मण की स्वाळी Ate hundred tons swali
भुक्की रै ग्यों ब्याळी I was hungry yesterday
पधनुं करों की स्याळी Sister in law of Padhan
स्वाल़ा लाई ब्याळी brought swala, yesterday
बमणु को बाड़ी खेंडो For Brahmin, it was Badi
जजमनुं को झ्वळी For Rajput, it was Jholi
हौरी खुणि चटणि For others, it was chatani
खांदु गल़ा गळी Gulped and gulped
भुकी से ग्यों ब्वाळी I was hungry yesterday
भुक्की रै ग्यों ब्याळी I was hungry yesterday
पधनुं करों की स्याळी Sister in law of Padhan brought, yesterday
नौ मण तिमला खै ग्यों Ate nine tons Timla (fig)
सौ मण का बेडु Ate Hundred tons Bedu( another type of fig)
नौ मण काफळ खैने Ate nine mon Kafal (a fruit)
सौ मण फळीन्ड़ा Ate hundred mon Falinda ( third type of figs)
फिर भी करदो आळी जाळी Even then unsatisfied and ran here and there
भुक्की रै ग्यों ब्याळी Still I was Hungary yesterday
पधनुं करों की स्याळी Sister in law of Padhan brought swala yesterday
नौ मण झंग्वर खै ग्यों Ate nine tons Jhangora (millets)
सौ मण खिचड़ो खैने Ate hundred tons Khichdi
ल़ूण राळी राळी Mixed all with salt
फिर भी भुक्की रै ग्यों ब्याळी Even then I was hundry yesterday
पधनुं करों की स्याळी Sister in law of Padhan braught swala
( Reference : Dr Nand Kishor Dhoundiyal Dr Manorama Dhoundiyal Garhwali lok Balgeet)
The above folk poetic is a humorous drama. There is high degree of exaggeration in the drama that even after eating tons of food, the person was hungry. The phrases create smile in the face of players or audience. The players enjoy the song by singing, dancing as per their pre arrangement. The players do performance as per their choices or pre arrangement. The act may be free for all to act or the children may decide how to act and who will do the acting to show the main character’s characteristics. The song explains various types of food, various types of igs available in Garhwal too. The phrases are used known phrases which do not need to explain story in details but the audience would understand the story. As ‘ Pahanu ki bwari layee’ is understood that she came from her mother’s house and would brought ‘arsa, swala’ etc. An dpadhan distributed the same among villagers
This author is witness such types of exaggerated poetic drama where paradox is main theme to create laughter rapture. In many songs, sharp satire is also found.
This author is witness of a parody drama played in ‘Gor ma’. The play was based on Ramayana and the dialogues of main characters were changed, Ram said the dialogues of Ravan, Rawan said the dialogues of Rama and Sita said the dialogues of Mandodary . The changeover of dialogues by well known characters of Ramayana created laughter and awkwardness too
The above drama is the proof that the folk literature creators were experts of understanding the dramatic situation and importance of basics of poetry. It may be said that ‘Bhukki rai gyaun bwali ‘ drama sings, walks, dances and simultaneously, definitely amuses the players and audience together.
Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti bckukreti@gmail.com