Ramdhol and Saitam -A dance forms

Ramdhol and Saitam -A dance forms

Ramdhol

The Bharia tribe residing in Patalkot, located amidst the beautiful valleys of Satpura Mountains and in the lap of natural beauty in Chhindwara district, Tamia, Madhya Pradesh, is world famous. There are 12 villages in this Patalkot where mainly people of Bharia caste reside. The main characteristic of the Bharia tribe is that they have still preserved their culture.

Dhol making- After worshipping the dried seeds of a tree in the forest, it is cut and brought home, then after giving it a round shape, it is opened and covered with goat skin.

Timki- Timki is made by covering goat skin (leather) in a clay pana.

On the occasion of marriage and Ganga Pujan (Roti Karna) and other auspicious occasions in Bhariya caste, a group of 20 to 25 or more men dance together playing Dhol-Timki and singing folk songs with beautiful voices.

Introduction to folk instruments Bada Dhol, Ramdhol or Gunnur Shahi Dhol 

1. Name of folk instrument:- In the culture of Bharia caste under the tribal community, on special occasions, people dance while singing songs and playing musical instruments. One of these musical instruments is Bada Dhol or Ramdhol, it is also called Gunnur Shahi Dhol.

2. Name of the region:- Ramdhol is played in Patalkot region of Chhindwara district. Dhol has a special place in Patalkot culture.

3. Accessories for making folk instruments:- For making folk instrument Bada Dhol

1. Bijo (Bijasar, Sheesham, Mango, Tinsa, Khmer wood and two small sticks.

2. 40-50 feet rope

3. Goat and goat skin

4. Bamboo pin

5. Myan or Rar

6. Axe

7. Vasula

8. Vindani, Kolki, Patasi

9. Suja

4. Process of making Dhol:-

 For making Dhol, any big tree is cut and dried for about 04-06 months or when dry wood is available, it is cut when it is about 02 feet long and 35-40 inches in circumference. To give it the right roundness, it is peeled by making it round with a compass. Then it is put in a khila between two sticks (wood) and a rope is wrapped around one end of the dhol stick and rotated round, at the same time the other The person gives it a round shape using a Patasi or Bindni. When the wood for the Dhol is completely round, some extra rope is kept which is tied in a circular manner in the middle of the Dhol, which is tied in a circular manner by wrapping all the ropes and some rope is kept to tie the Dhol around the waist. Now our Dhol is ready but we cannot play it immediately because if played immediately the string or mynah attached to it will come out. It can be played only after drying it for 1-2 days.

5. Process of covering drums:- Goat and sheep skin are required for covering drums. First of all, the leather is melted and the hair is removed. After this, leather is cut for both the drums by making a round shape 3-4 inches bigger than the size of the drum beats. Although both the wooden beats appear to be of the same size, but one beat (Gad taal) is bigger and Tari taal is 1 inch smaller than Gad taal. Usually goat skin is used for Gad taal and goat skin for Tari taal. After cutting the leather and making the bamboo pinchhi in a round shape, the leather is wrapped around it. The bamboo pinchhi is slightly bigger than the drum beats. 2 pinchhi are used for one beat, the leather gets stretched when these pinchhi are rotated in a circular shape. In this way, 1 beat is ready. Similarly, the second beat is also made. After this, placing locks made of leather in both the holes of the dhol and maintaining equal distance, piercing the edge of the leather with a needle, both the locks are alternately kneaded with a rope. Before kneading, a myan or rar is kept inside the big lock with a pad.

6. Historical aspect of folk instrument Dhol:- Dhol is a very ancient musical instrument. The settlement in Patalkot must have taken place about a thousand years ago, since then the Dhol must have originated in the culture of Bharia community. At that time, dancing by playing Dhol was not that important. Living far away in the forests was a fear of wild animals. It had to be played to drive away wild animals from the surroundings. In this way, Dhol became a part of the life of Bharia community. 

7. Role of folk instrument (Dhol) in social life:- Big Dhol can be played anytime for entertainment, but mainly it is played and dance is performed on birth celebrations, marriage, roti-bhaji/Diwai, Bidri Pujan, Diwali and on the night of Amavasya while waking up the cow. It is the main musical instrument of Patalkot area of ​​Chhindwara district. Big Timki, Jhanjh are played along with Dhol and the dancers dance by tying ghungroos to their feet. 

8. Folk singing with folk instruments:- A group of 20-25 men dance in a group with dhol and timki tied around their waist. While dancing, some couplet or setam song is sung. While singing, all the people stop. As soon as the song or couplet ends, they start dancing while playing dhol and timki.

Examples:- 1. Sumru Sharda Mai-Mai Ho Ho S S S Ram Naam Lena---------

2. Rame Rumai Bhala Seva-Seva Ho Ho S S S Ram Naam Lena--------------

3. Bana Me Moraliya Nachar-Nachar Ho Ho S S S Ram Naam Lena--------- 

After singing any one of these songs, Dhol Timki is played. At this time, everyone stands in their respective places.

Second Song:- After singing this song, all the people of the group start dancing while playing Dhol Timki and cymbals.

Example:- 1. Desh Dekhana Iran Ho, Nagari Shuni Padri Aachhar-Aachhar.

Doha after stopping the dance:- From far-away Iran Samadhi, Hunger and thirsty Aachhar

Come Samadhi, take me in your lap, I don't see anyone.

Song for Dance:- 2. Dera de de usari, de de usari de,

Aaj mori samdhar dera de.

After singing this song, all the people again start dancing while playing Dhol Timki.

Women also perform Saitam dance after singing these songs. But the group of women is separate; they form a separate circular circle and perform the Saitam dance. 

9. Current status of folk instruments:- 20 to 25 years ago, Bada Ramdhol was very important, it is still important but its area has become limited. 25 years ago, both the bride and groom's side used to accompany the procession by playing drums. If the groom's side did not bring the drum, sometimes the procession was refused. Then as a compromise, the bride's side took some money or jaggery as a penalty from the groom's side. That is why it was very important to have a drum or timki in every house, but with the use of modern musical instruments today, the importance of the ancient musical instrument dhol is decreasing. Earlier leather was used in dhol, but today plastic has replaced leather. The sweet tune comes out from the leather beat, while the plastic beat produces a harsh and ear-piercing sound. So if we look at the Dhol in today's environment then we find the Dhol Timki in a handle in the Bharia culture and traditions. 

10. Usefulness of folk instrument Dhol:- Dhol is usually played in Janmotsav, Marriage, Bidri, and Devkay (Diwai). On happy occasions, people dance to the tune of Dhol. It is prevalent in only a few villages.

11. Joy of folk instrument:- When folk instrument Ramdhol is played, people forget all their sorrows and pain and start dancing. One of its benefits is that people forget their mutual enmity or fights and sing, play and dance in the ocean of joy. People get lost in this folk art music, even if for a short time. Dance is done for one's own pleasure and not at someone's behest.

12. Saving folk instruments:- In today's environment, folk instruments Dhol-Timki are on the verge of extinction. To save or preserve the culture, there is a need to introduce the new generation to the culture and include it in the school textbooks to increase interest. There is a need to include it in the curriculum of high school, higher secondary and colleges in an experimental form and conduct studies and there is a need to pay attention to folk art at the administrative level in the form of competition at the village level and Gram Panchayat level. Only then can this culture be preserved.

Saitam Dance - 

Women dance in a group of 20 to 50 members with cymbals and handkerchiefs in their hands. They wear 16-yard long sari-polka, bangles and silver jewellery in their hands and toda, pehri in their feet and this adds to their beauty. They have beautiful and attractive tattoos on their hands and feet. Women singing Saitam songs dance in a circle and in the middle of them are one dhol and timki player who plays dhol-timki according to the ups and downs of the song.

Makhanlal Bharti

Village- Gudhichhatri

(Patalkot)

Po. Tehsil- Tamia, Dist.- Chhindwara, M.P.  PIN- 480559

Mobile No.- 6263786360, 9406756081

Ramdhol dance and Saitam dance are important identities of the culture of Bharia tribe.

These dance troupes have performed at district level, division level, state level etc. and in other programs like Rang and Meghmadal.

There are different folk songs for different rituals performed during marriage occasions of Bharia tribe. The worrying thing is that in the present environment, the use of electronic musical instruments is increasing, due to which the place of tribal musical instruments is in danger. Local bodies will have to pay special attention to save and preserve them.

 Makhanlal Bharti

 Team Leader

 Bharia Tribe Dance Group

 Village- Gudhichhatri (Patalkot)

P.Tah.- Tamia, Dist.-Chhindwara, M.P.  PIN- 480559

Mobile No.- 6263786360, 9406756081