Hamirpur Folk Songs

Folk songs of the district is simply diffirent and deep rooted. Mostly thease songs are sung in some occation such as marriage, festivals, while grinding and during harvesting.

"Bhari dupahri sawan Gaiye, sorath gaiye adhi raat. Alha saira wa din Gaiye, ja din jhadi lage din raat."
 Some of popular folk songs are.

1. Faag : Faag song is a rhythmic music famous and it could be heard in the entire Hamirpur region during spring season when the crops are ready for harvesting. In this time people enjoys the festivals of color called Holi.

Faag songs  is being sung by a group of people with 'Dhol', Majeera and Harmonium. Faag express the mystical attachment between male and female.

A thousand of Phag songs was composed by a folk poet Isuri (born 1881, in Mauranipur, Jhansi).

2. Alha : Alha or Saira is a monsoon song which sung When farmers are free from their agricultural works during heavy monsoon. Alha is composed in bundeli language.

"Barah baris lai kookar jiye, Au terah lau jiye Siyar.Baris atharah chhatriy jeeye, Age jeewan ko dhikkar."

Alha recital makes our emotions awake through the description of heroic deeds of  Alha and Udal, who fought on the side of the Chandelas in the war against Prithiviraj Chauhan. The Alha’s lyrics has been continuously enriched by different authors at different times. Interested people can visit Para village in Teeja Mahotsaw.

 3. Dadre and Gari : This is the main folk lore of Bundelkhand. As a ‘Gari’ they show the happiness and joy to express their feeling for the blissful movement when the auspicious marriage is taking place. They evoke the feelings in the heart of bride and groom with love and romance. ‘Dadre’ is sung by a group of ladies to bless the newly wed couple. For example.

"Thakura tori jat ganwar nanad bai dware na bithaio beimanan ka..pahli chal jab mai aai mori sakhi pahli chal jab mai aai. Wo to nirkhat kajra hamar nanad bai dware na bithaio beimanan ka...."

4. Lamtera :Lamtera songs sung in honour of Ganesh and Shakti. It songs are sung by Bundeli pilgrims during devotional festivals of whole district in the month of January, February and March after rabi crop in winter blossoms. Farmers after seeing their crops flowering, their hearts and minds also bloom like a flower. To show their gratitude to the God, the devotees offer the flowers of their emotions to the lotus feet of the God. They realize that the whole year passed in day to day life, and with the feeling of spring season they want to get blessed by going to the pilgrimage places, temples and to take the holy bath in the rivers.

5. Khyal :  a competitive form of singing performed by two groups of singers In ‘Khyal Gayaki’, a singer recites mythical stories, heroic deeds, the social events and the deep family relations. In this expression of songs, a very special drum ‘Dhapli’ gives very special beats which harmonize emotions,

6. Kaharwa : In the expression of folk lore Kaharwa, the sentiments of heart culminate into the romantic expression. This song is always sung by a drummer who follows the dancer of Raai, which is why this dance is also known as Raai-Kaharwa.

7. Sohar : This is sung on the occasion of the birth of a child.

8.Achri : This is  a folk song form performed in honour of mother goddesses especially during Navratri. People used to sing this song in groups with dholak and majera.For example read this attractive song.

"Lal Langoti Hanth me Soti Chal Bhai Gange Hana Ho Maya..Chal Bhai Gange Hana Ho Maa....."

9.Tambura Bhajans : These are songs usually sung to Kabir's lyrics, celebrating a nirguni (formless) godhead.

10.Diwari Songs: This is sung during deepawali and Maun pooja.

11. Dj Songs: "Dj Jagat raj" and "Dj vicky" is well known word in local Dj mixing. In this bollywood songs are mixed with high brass and sound.

"Teri ankha ka yo kajal mane kare se gori ghayal, mai shahad shahad....." 

Some attempts have been made to compose and popularise new folk songs in and around hamirpur.

Categories: Culture