The Tradition of Folk Songs

Dr. Dwarikanath Nayak
Dhanupali, Sambalpur

Some of the traditional folk songs of Western Orissa require accompaniment of dance for presentation where as many other are sung without any. Most of the songs sung during festive occasions, marriage ceremony, and some specific occasion need the accompaniment of dance for its execution. Other songs like attributed to game, work, crying songs and songs to allure children or for recreation do not need any dance. Some songs where the interlude tunes are rhythmic also at times do not require any dance.

In the entire Western part of Orissa during any family, social or religious rituals, specific occasion young boys and girls sing traditional songs. Accompanied by dance although these songs are meant for entitlement during functions like marriage, Devi Puja these songs are performed as the situation demands. Teenage girls perform in choir while they play. However, songs like Halia, Sagadiaa, Dalkhai, and Rasarkeli usually are performed solo. The drummers play a very important role in songs where dance is a must. During specific festival Karma, Dhap, Dalkhai, Raserkeli, Ghumura and Danda are performed whereas Humo-Bauli, Chhilolai, Sajani, Halia, Sagadia, Kandana, Bangari, Boria are performed for recreations.Enriched with natural recourses people of this region lead a very simple life which can be clearly seen from their day today social behaviour and independent creative genre. The geographical location of this area can be attributed for their simple and unique culture. Deeply netted local cultural, local belief, religious ways have greatly influenced the people of this area which can be visualised in the folk songs of Sambalpur.Musical value is greatly displayed than literary value in the traditional songs of Western Orissa . This can be divided into two groups as regards to its melodious tune and rhythm. First with rhythm and the other without it. Dalkhai, Raserkeli. Karma, Mailajada where accompaniment of musical instrument is a must can be grouped as Rhythmic and beside this - Sajani, Bouli, Bangri, Dula, where musical instrument are not very essential also are rhythmic songs hence they can be also grouped as rhythmic songs. Halia, Sagadia, songs attributed to crying are recitations type, they may not require any accompaniment of musical instruments.Dalkhai is a ritual based folk dance, which is also rendered as a folk song accompanied by several musical instrument. During the Mahaastami day of Durga Puja the entire Western Part of Orissa celebrates Bhai Juntia. A total fasting is observed by women for the entire day and night to seek the blessing of Goddess Durga for amelioration and long life of their brothers. In villages young girls usually dance in small groups during this celebration which is known as Dalkhai dance. Dalkhai is basically a folk deity.Her abode is known as Dalkhai kuthi.The name dalkhai derives from the name of the deity as the dance is performed in her name.In later time this deity became synonym with Durga by the people of high society. Usually through this dance they pray for the general happiness in the family, house and the village as a whole. Till date this ritual is performed in the districts of Balangir, Sambalpur and inerter villages of western Orissa. The priest of this village deity is called Dehuri. Dhunkel a typical musical instrument is played to invoke the sixteen different God and Goddess to the Dalkhai kuthi. Musician who played the Dhunkel are known as Gouni or Gayan. Durga is the premier deity amongst all. Besides Durga, Saraswati, Ganesh, Iswar & Parvati, Brahma, Laxmi, Hanuman, Kartik, Kubera, Matsya, Baruna are amongst the others. Dhunkel is a combination of different instruments like a flat shaped thing made of bamboo rattan called Kula (winnow), two bamboo sticks like bow and one round shaped clay pot. Few selected women are appointed to sing the dalkhai song; the theme of the song is moistly praise of the Devi During this celebration of Dalkhai all the young women of the villages assembles in front of the Dalkhai Kuthi along with their Puja materials. After the Puja dalkhai is performed in front of the kuthi. Young girls dance along with the musical accompaniment of Dhol, Nisan, Tasa and Jhanj. Till the end of the tenth day of Dasahara they are engrossed in dalkhai dance. The entire village plunge into an energetic mood by the intoxicating effect of the melodious song and dance. Although dalkhai is performed as a ritual, dance and song remains its principal interest. The dancers stand in a semi-circular formation during the dance. One after another they sing a couplet and at the end of it they dance in a particular way by bending at the waist level and move their feet rhythmically accompanied by musical instruments. During the song only dhol is played and later the ambience fills with the vibrant rhythm of musical instruments like Dhol, Nishan, Tasha, Jhanj and Muhari at the end of the songs The songs are composed from couplets to sixteen lines. The singer begins the song uttering “Dalkahi Re, Dalkahi Re” (twice) and finishes the lines with another pronouncement of “Dalkahi Re”. Mostly the songs are of romantic themes. At times one can find the description of nature, seasons, gods and goddesses sometimes satire and teasing as well. The singers have to depend entirely on their memory while rendering the songs at times presence of mind comes handy while depicting the songs

Dalkahi: Dalkhai Re

Ahare tiki chahani

Shukhigala nanir muhura pani

Telahaladi rakhitha ghini Dalkahi re

During rendering Dalkhai usually Rasarkeli, Mailajada, Jaiphul are also usually rendered, they can be grouped as Dalkhai. The lyrical depiction of Rasarkeli, MaelaJada and Jaiphula may look similar with Dalkahi; however the song and rhythm of drums has different beats and style.

Jaiphula : Jaiphula again like the other songs begins and ends with pronouncement of Jaiphula. Young male singer to allure the young belle sings this song. Jaiphula is in fact a flower with a very intoxicating fragrance. Having the closeness of the lover is like inhaling the intoxicating fragrance of the flowers - the young singers render Jaiphula. Young girls often name their best friend as Jaiphula.