I always associate Indian festivals with their legends and myths and the food rather than their rituals. So if I ate Sakkarai pongal and vadai with gusto for the festival of Pongal (Harvest Festival, Thai maadham - Mid-January to Mid-February) as a small child in Madras, Bangalore introduced me to Yugadi (Kannada New Year, Chaitra - Mid-March to Mid-April), and Obbattu. It was also Bangalore that introduced me to Lohri (Harvest/Winter Solstice, Paush - Mid-January to Mid-February), Teej (and kheer in the month of Sawan - Mid-July to Mid-August) apart from Diwali (and Kala Jamun), courtesy my Punjabi friends, Asha and Ashwin.
I became acquainted with the softest, squeakiest Rosogollas and the creamiest Sondesh in Bangalore as well, thanks to Nikhil, whose Bengali roots meant we celebrated Durga Puja (in the month of Ashvin (Mid-September
to Mid-October) with great fervour. Basically, I don't think there was a
single festival that we left 'un'-celebrated! Christmas and Easter
meant Lucy (well, her 'real' name was Chloe, so I don't know why we
called her Lucy, but we did) and hot cross buns with oodles of currants,
and the sort of dark, fruity, melt-in-the-mouth Christmas cake that (I
insist) only the Indian Christians can bake. Eid meant crowding into
Nusrat's house for seiviyaan and sheermal. (I didn't eat meat even then, so the wonderful kebabs were wasted on me, but our other friends pigged out.) For Onam and Vishu (the Malayali New Year), of course, I badgered my mother into making semiya payasam or paal payasam for us.
Thinking about Ganesh Chaturthi also brought to mind how my love affair with Ganeshas had begun - my hostel-mate had given me a little carved betel-nut pillayar when we were working in Madras. I used to have to travel a lot, and would come back to my room at all odd hours of the night, depending on when the state transport brought me back, and the pillayar would 'keep me safe', she said. That pillayar was the beginning of my obsession with the elephant-headed god. I have spent the intervening years collecting Ganapatis of various materials, in various sizes.
It was when I came to Bombay after my marriage that I was introduced to Ganesh Chaturthi - and hot, ghee-soaked Puran Poli and steamed modaks, thanks to Sheela aunty, our neighbour, and Lalita, my husband's friend. (As I said before, festivals meant food. Especially sweets. Lots of sweets.)
Thinking about Ganesh Chaturthi also brought to mind how my love affair with Ganeshas had begun - my hostel-mate had given me a little carved betel-nut pillayar when we were working in Madras. I used to have to travel a lot, and would come back to my room at all odd hours of the night, depending on when the state transport brought me back, and the pillayar would 'keep me safe', she said. That pillayar was the beginning of my obsession with the elephant-headed god. I have spent the intervening years collecting Ganapatis of various materials, in various sizes.
It was when I came to Bombay after my marriage that I was introduced to Ganesh Chaturthi - and hot, ghee-soaked Puran Poli and steamed modaks, thanks to Sheela aunty, our neighbour, and Lalita, my husband's friend. (As I said before, festivals meant food. Especially sweets. Lots of sweets.)
That
got me thinking about my next post - Hindi films seem to have songs for
every single season. And for every single reason. (And sometimes, for
no reason at all.) Why not a post on Festival Songs beginning with this
month? After all, Ganesh Chaturthi usually heralds a long period of festivities in India. So what better time than now?
Since
I had already done a post on Holi, and New Year's, I began looking for
songs that celebrated other festivals, and to my delight, there are
plenty. Here, in order of the festivals (from this month on) are my
selections.
1. Navratri (Ashvin - September/October) (September 2014) - A spirited nine-day festival to celebrate the nine forms of the Mother Goddess. In Kerala, my home state, the last three days of Navaratri - Ashtami, Navami and Dashami are celebrated as Saraswati Puja. The tenth day, Vijayadashami, is also the day of Vidyarambham - the auspicious day that we typically initiate our children into the world of learning.
Significance:
Significance:
- To celebrate the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura.
- To celebrate the victory of Rama over Ravana.
Suhag (1979)
Singers: Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle
Music: Laxmikant-Pyarelal
Lyrics: Anand Bakshi
I was going to choose Jai jai jagadambe mata from Ganga ki Lehren but, kitschy though it is, I love, love, love the vibrancy of O sheronwali. Bonus? It has Amitabh Bachchan. And the dandiya,
which is a dance I absolutely love for its colour, its vibrancy, its
grace. Plus, this is one song in the film that absolutely drives the
narrative forward. The crooks are out to steal the goddess' jewels.
Amitabh is forced to help them. Shashi Kapoor, his long-lost brother, is
out to stop them. Rekha is there to provide the glamour. And the film,
of course, is pure masala, Manmohan Desai-ishtyle. 2. Diwali (Kartik - October/November) (October 2014) - The festival of lights. The night of Diwali is usually the night of the new moon in the month of Kartik, the darkest night of the month. It is usually celebrated 20 days after Dashami.
Significance:
- Celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance.
- To welcome Goddess Lakshmi (and prosperity) into the house.
- To celebrate the return of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana to Ayodhya
Sheesh Mahal (1950)
Singers: Geeta Dutt, Shamshad Begum
Thomasleeha (1975)
Singer: KJ Yesudas
Music: Salil Choudhary
Lyrics: Vayalar
Unfortunately, I didn't come across a single song in Hindi films, past or present, that celebrated Christmas. So, from my native land, here is a beautiful Christian devotional song. No, it is not about Christmas. It is from a film based on the life of St. Thomas, the apostle. Salil Choudhary re-worked a song for the motherland that he wrote in Bengali for the IPTA, and Vayalar wrote the lyrics turning it into a song singing of the message of Christ. If you listen carefully, you can hear both Glory Glory Hallelujah, and John Brown's Body. (For some reason, the Tubechop link begins in the middle of the song, when you press 'play'. But if you pull the cursor back to the beginning, you can hear the whole song, beginning with the choral prelude.)
4. Basant Panchami (Magha - January/February) (January 2015) - Spring Festival. Usually celebrated to herald the arrival of Spring, on the fifth day of the month of Magha.
Music: Vasant Desai
Lyrics: Nazim Panipati
Strangely enough, both the songs that were on my shortlist - Lakhon taare aasman pe (Hariyali aur Rasta) and Ek woh bhi diwali thi (Nazrana) were less about celebrating Diwali, and more about bemoaning their fate on the night. This one, though, is a cheery, happy song, and is perfect for the occasion, even if one of the singers knows that their circumstances are going to change drastically on the morrow. Unable to get her father to see that, she is making the best of her circumstances. After all, what is the sense in mourning over things you cannot change?
3. Christmas (December 25) - The birth of Jesus Christ. Celebrated all over the world on December 25th.
Significance:
Strangely enough, both the songs that were on my shortlist - Lakhon taare aasman pe (Hariyali aur Rasta) and Ek woh bhi diwali thi (Nazrana) were less about celebrating Diwali, and more about bemoaning their fate on the night. This one, though, is a cheery, happy song, and is perfect for the occasion, even if one of the singers knows that their circumstances are going to change drastically on the morrow. Unable to get her father to see that, she is making the best of her circumstances. After all, what is the sense in mourning over things you cannot change?
3. Christmas (December 25) - The birth of Jesus Christ. Celebrated all over the world on December 25th.
Significance:
- The birth of the Son of God, who gave his life to redeem the sins of humanity.
Singer: KJ Yesudas
Music: Salil Choudhary
Lyrics: Vayalar
Unfortunately, I didn't come across a single song in Hindi films, past or present, that celebrated Christmas. So, from my native land, here is a beautiful Christian devotional song. No, it is not about Christmas. It is from a film based on the life of St. Thomas, the apostle. Salil Choudhary re-worked a song for the motherland that he wrote in Bengali for the IPTA, and Vayalar wrote the lyrics turning it into a song singing of the message of Christ. If you listen carefully, you can hear both Glory Glory Hallelujah, and John Brown's Body. (For some reason, the Tubechop link begins in the middle of the song, when you press 'play'. But if you pull the cursor back to the beginning, you can hear the whole song, beginning with the choral prelude.)
4. Basant Panchami (Magha - January/February) (January 2015) - Spring Festival. Usually celebrated to herald the arrival of Spring, on the fifth day of the month of Magha.
Significance:
- Honours Kamadeva, the god of Love, and his wife, Rati Devi.
- Celebrated as Saraswati Puja in the eastern parts of the country.
- Is celebrated as the festival of kites in Punjab.
- It is considered the beginning of Spring festivities that reach their summation with Holi.
Upkar (1967)
Singers: Mahendra Kapoor, Asha Bhosle, Shamshad Begum, Manna Dey
Music: Kalyanji Anandji
Lyrics: Prem Dhawan
What
better song to celebrate this festival than this peppy number where
Manoj 'Bharat' Kumar is less self-righteous and annoying than usual?
After all, one can always look at Pran and Asha Parekh. The
picturisation is filled with all the colour that is associated with the
advent of Spring; and complemented by the dances, the swings, the
fair...
My other choice, Aayi jhoomke bahaar from Insaniyat turned out to not have anything to do with Basant Panchami at all. So you miss seeing a Dev Anand with a mucchad trying hard to look rural.
5. Maha Shivratri (Phalguna - February/March) (February 2015) - The night of Shiva - the Hindu God of destruction. Maha Shivratri is celebrated on the 14th night of the New Moon, during the dark half (Krishna Paksha) of the month of Phalguna (Phagun).
My other choice, Aayi jhoomke bahaar from Insaniyat turned out to not have anything to do with Basant Panchami at all. So you miss seeing a Dev Anand with a mucchad trying hard to look rural.
5. Maha Shivratri (Phalguna - February/March) (February 2015) - The night of Shiva - the Hindu God of destruction. Maha Shivratri is celebrated on the 14th night of the New Moon, during the dark half (Krishna Paksha) of the month of Phalguna (Phagun).
Significance:
- To celebrate the wedding of Shiva with Parvati, Sati re-born.
- To celebrate Lord Shiva saving the world by drinking the poison churned up during the Samudra Manthan.
- It is also celebrated as the night when Lord Shiva danced the Tandava, the primordial dance of creation, preservation and destruction.
Singers: Hemant Kumar
Music: SD Burman
Lyrics: Shailendra
Okay, I cheated a little. This is a stage show. But it is still about the wedding of Shiva and Parvati. Dev Anand, in his titular role as the munimji, is the one narrating the storyof the marriage, from the time Shiva is getting ready, to the wedding procession, and the wedding itself. While Ameeta plays Parvati, the man playing the part of Shiva is Sachin Shankar, a cousin and student of the legendary Uday Shankar. An extremely graceful dancer, as is to be expected - pay attention to the part where he, as Shiva, drinks bhang, and then walks along with his baraat. His steps are extremely fluid. The picturisation is fantastical in the true sense of the word. I love the way Hemant Kumar sang this song, though I must confess that I do not usually associate him with Dev Anand at all. And Shailendra's lyrics aptly describe the wedding. (The only discordant note is Dev Anand with his thick eyebrows and thicker moustache.)
Lyrics: Shailendra
Okay, I cheated a little. This is a stage show. But it is still about the wedding of Shiva and Parvati. Dev Anand, in his titular role as the munimji, is the one narrating the storyof the marriage, from the time Shiva is getting ready, to the wedding procession, and the wedding itself. While Ameeta plays Parvati, the man playing the part of Shiva is Sachin Shankar, a cousin and student of the legendary Uday Shankar. An extremely graceful dancer, as is to be expected - pay attention to the part where he, as Shiva, drinks bhang, and then walks along with his baraat. His steps are extremely fluid. The picturisation is fantastical in the true sense of the word. I love the way Hemant Kumar sang this song, though I must confess that I do not usually associate him with Dev Anand at all. And Shailendra's lyrics aptly describe the wedding. (The only discordant note is Dev Anand with his thick eyebrows and thicker moustache.)
6. Holi (Phalguna - February/March) (March 2015) - The festival of colours. In direct contrast to Maha Shivratri, Holi is celebrated during the vernal equinox, during the last full moon day in the month of Phagun.
Significance:
- The triumph of good over evil. The death of Holika who tried to kill her nephew Prahlada
- The re-birth of Kamadeva, the God of Love, after he had been burnt to cinders by Shiva's third eye.
- A celebration of Spring. And love.
Singers: Lata Mangeshkar
Music: Hemant Kumar
Lyrics: Rajinder Krishen
Lyrics: Rajinder Krishen
I already wrote a post on Holi
songs, but I couldn't resist adding this song. The film is not exactly
famous, but the starcast is not unknown either - Pradeep Kumar,
Vyjayanthimala, Johnny Walker, Jeevan, etc. It
is picturised on Vyjayanthimala, so one can expect some grace. And with
Jeevan there, villainy cannot be far behind. So poor Vyjayanthimala
gets a stone flung at her head, though I suspect that was meant for
Pradeep Kumar. It is a lovely song, though. My other choice for this
festival was a more modern one - Holi khele raghuveera avadh mein from Baghban. I decided to stick with the old.
7. Ram Navami (Chaitra March-April) (March 2015) - The birth of Sri Rama. It is celebrated in the Shukl Paksha (the fortnight between New Moon and Full Moon, i.e., the waxing moon) on the 9th day of the month of Chaitra, the first month of the Hindu calendar.
Significance:
- To celebrate the birth of Sri Rama, who is considered the 7th avatar of Lord Vishnu.
Sargam (1979)
Singer: Mohammed Rafi
Music: Laxmikant-Pyarelal
Lyrics: Anand Bakshi
Lyrics: Anand Bakshi
Strangely, there aren't many Ram Navami
songs in Hindi films. I definitely didn't come across any from the 50s
or 60s. And I say 'strange' because I would have thought that, with Lord
Rama being such a prominent deity in North India, there would be more
songs celebrating his birth in Hindi. The Hindi remake of K Vishwanath's
Telugu film, Siri Siri Muvva, Sargam saw the debut of Jayaprada, and
won music directors Laxmikant-Pyarelal a Filmfare award for their score -
all seven songs were sung by Mohammed Rafi (three duets with Lata, and
four solos). Much like his father and uncle, Rishi Kapoor too had that
innate grace and an inherent sense of music and melody. (Watch him play
the daph. He actually looks like he is playing it instead of holding it like a fashion accessory.
8. Eid ul-fitr (the end of Ramadan) (July 2015) - The
Festival of Breaking Fast. Eid-ul-fitr signifies the end of the month
of fasting and is celebrated on the first day of the month of Shawwal. Traditionally,
it is the day of the first sighting of the cresent moon after sunset
after the Ramadan. The months in the Islamic calendar migrate through
the seasons, since they follow the lunar calendar, and so Eid-ul-fitr could
possibly appear any time during the year. The months begin with the
sighting of the crescent of the new moon. It must be noted however, that
the 'lesser Eid' as it is known, always appears during the same
time in the Islami calendar. The Gregorian calendar will see it appear
approximately 11 days prior, each successive year. (And if I have made a mistake about any of this, I hope my Muslim readers will correct me.)
Significance:
- According to the Qu'ran, the Prophet is said to have received his revelations during the month of Ramadan. Fasting during this period was made mandatory for adult Muslims in the second year after the migration from Mecca to Medina.
Singer: Sabita Bannerjee, Suman Kalyanpur, Kamla
Music: Nashad (Shakat Ali Dehlavi)
Lyrics: Vishwamitra Adil
This is the perfect Eid song - from a little-known film and a not-so-well-known music-director - that
celebrates the sighting of the crescent moon. The situation is
poignant, since Shyama is a widow. She lives with her mother, and is a
childhood friend of Shekhar. Shekhar's mother is very fond of her, and Shyama spends a lot of time helping her out. The song is picturised in Shekhar's house,
and it is his sister (Manju) and her friends who are celebrating Eid.
9. Raksha Bandhan (Shravan July/August) (August 2015) - The festival of unconditional love between a sister and her brother. Quite literally, the 'knot of protection'. The festival is celebrated on the full moon day in the month of Shravan (Shravan poornima), and celebrates the bond of love between any man and woman who have a protective brother-sister relationship.
9. Raksha Bandhan (Shravan July/August) (August 2015) - The festival of unconditional love between a sister and her brother. Quite literally, the 'knot of protection'. The festival is celebrated on the full moon day in the month of Shravan (Shravan poornima), and celebrates the bond of love between any man and woman who have a protective brother-sister relationship.
Significance:
- Traditonally, a man who receives a rakhi from a woman, is honour-bound to protect her as he would his sister.
Naya Kanoon (1964)
Singer: Asha Bhosle
Music: Madan Mohan
Lyrics: Saraswati Kumar Deepak
I was going to post the ubiquitous Raakhi song - Bhaiyya mere, raakhi ke bandhan ko nibhana from Chhoti Bahen, but decided against it. (I don't like the song.) That is when, searching for Raksha Bandhan
songs on YouTube, I came across this. Mind you, I have watched this
film a long time ago, but it had completely slipped my memory. I'd also
forgotten that it was a Madan Mohan tune - which begs the question, why
did Madan Mohan always compose for flop films? The film was based on the
then-new law that daughters were entitled to an equal share of the
family property. So, of course, you can guess that soon after the
cinematic expression of long-enduring love between brother and sister,
they will have a falling out.
10. Janmashtami (Bhadrapada August-September) (September 2015) - The celebration of the birth of Sri Krishna. Krishna Janmashtami, or Ashtami Rohini as it is known in Kerala, falls on the eight day (ashtami) of the Krishna Paksha (waning moon. month of Bhadrapada (Chingam), the fifth month in the Hindu calendar (and the first in the Malayalam calendar).
10. Janmashtami (Bhadrapada August-September) (September 2015) - The celebration of the birth of Sri Krishna. Krishna Janmashtami, or Ashtami Rohini as it is known in Kerala, falls on the eight day (ashtami) of the Krishna Paksha (waning moon. month of Bhadrapada (Chingam), the fifth month in the Hindu calendar (and the first in the Malayalam calendar).
Significance:
- Krishna, the eighth son of Devaki and Vasudeva, and the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, was born on Earth in order to destroy Kamsa, his maternal uncle.
- The night of his birth was, according to myth, a stormy one, and Vasudeva had to cross the Yamuna in spate. Strangely enough, to my knowledge, there hasn't been a single Ashtami Rohini when it didn't rain. :)
Bluffmaster (1963)
Singer: Mohammed Rafi
Music: Kalyanji-Anandji
Lyrics: Rajinder Krishen
A list of songs and no Shammi Kapoor? How can that even be? And this one, the perfect Janmashtami song, with the breaking of the dahi handi
to mimic the playfulness of the Lord as a youth. Teams of young men
form human pyramids to reach the pot of butter or curd, that is hung
high up between buildings, to break it. With Mohammed Rafi singing with
his usual verve for Shammi, this song is so closely associated with the
festival that even today, the streets of Bombay echo this song every
single Janmashtami.
11. Ganesh Chaturthi (Bhadrapada August-September) (September 2015) - To celebrate the presence of Ganesha on earth. The festival is celebrated on the 4th day of the Shukla Paksha (or the waxing moon) in the month of Bhadrapada. The festival lasts for ten days, ending on Anand Chaturdashi or the 14th day of the waxing moon, when the idol is immersed in water.
11. Ganesh Chaturthi (Bhadrapada August-September) (September 2015) - To celebrate the presence of Ganesha on earth. The festival is celebrated on the 4th day of the Shukla Paksha (or the waxing moon) in the month of Bhadrapada. The festival lasts for ten days, ending on Anand Chaturdashi or the 14th day of the waxing moon, when the idol is immersed in water.
Significance:
- Celebrating the Ganesha festival in public arena was popularised by Lokmanya Tilak, who saw a way to bridge the gap between the Brahmins and non-brahmins, and to instil nationalism.
Maha Puja (1954)
Singer: Mohammed Rafi
Music: Avinash Vyas
Lyrics: Ramesh Gupta
As far as I know, this was not a song written for the movie. This Ganesh aarti predates the song by many years, if not decades. Many artistes have sung this song, in many film and non-film albums over the years. This is the Mohammed Rafi version. As is usually the case when he is singing Bhajans, there is a wealth of devotion in his voice.
Now, because I am a Malayali, and it is Thirivonam tomorrow, I couldn't not add... and of course, the song is from a Malayalam film.
12. Onam (Chingam August-September) (September 2014) - the rice harvest festival of Kerala, celebrated in Chingam, the first month in the Malayali calendar. It is a ten-day festival that begins on Atham, the 13th nakshatra, and ends on Thiruvonam, the 22nd. It is celebrated across the length and breadth of the state, and by everyone, irrespective of religion, caste or creed (even though the legend behind the festival is a Hindu one). The famous Vallomkali (Snakeboat races) takes place during this period. The festival is also marked by the pookkalam (elaborate floral arrangements), the traditional Onam feasts, and dances such as pulikkali (performers painted in yellow and black stripes who dance to the beat of the chenda and thakil), Kaikottikkali, Theyyam, etc.
Significance:
Now, because I am a Malayali, and it is Thirivonam tomorrow, I couldn't not add... and of course, the song is from a Malayalam film.
12. Onam (Chingam August-September) (September 2014) - the rice harvest festival of Kerala, celebrated in Chingam, the first month in the Malayali calendar. It is a ten-day festival that begins on Atham, the 13th nakshatra, and ends on Thiruvonam, the 22nd. It is celebrated across the length and breadth of the state, and by everyone, irrespective of religion, caste or creed (even though the legend behind the festival is a Hindu one). The famous Vallomkali (Snakeboat races) takes place during this period. The festival is also marked by the pookkalam (elaborate floral arrangements), the traditional Onam feasts, and dances such as pulikkali (performers painted in yellow and black stripes who dance to the beat of the chenda and thakil), Kaikottikkali, Theyyam, etc.
Significance:
- Commemorates the arrival of Vamana, the fifth incarnation of Vishnu.
- Thiruvonam celebrates the return of Mahabali, the grandson of Prahlada and the beloved asura king of Kerala, who is banished to the nether world by Vamana, because his ascendancy over the three worlds troubles Indra, who fears his throne might me next. However, the benevolent monarch who was also an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu, is allowed to return to meet his subjects once a year. His reign is supposed to have been one of unmatched prosperity and righteousness. Two days later, on 'Moonam Onam', Mahabali ascends the heavens again.
- Another legend traces the birth of Kerala to this day, when Sage Parashurama, the sixth avatar of Lord Vishnu threw his battle-axe into the sea and carved a sliver of land from it, forming present-day Kerala.
Singer: KJ Yesudas
Music: Salil Choudhary
Lyrics: Sreekumaran Thampi
The song may be from a mainstream Malayalam movie, but the composer is not a Malayali. But Salil Choudhary is as much a part of a Malayali's consciousness as he is part of his native Bengal. Malayalis have embraced him with much affection, and accorded him a reverence that they reserve for the 'outsider' who nevertheless can become one of them in sensibilities, even if not in language. Each song in this film is a gem, and the lullaby in this film is one I used to sing to my older son. (When I sang it to my younger one, Son1 protested - it was 'his' song!) I chose this particular song because a) it is a beautiful harvest song, and b) the lyrics talk of Onam and the harvest, and the picturisation complements it - what with the womenfolk harvesting the grain and piling the hay in the centre of the farm, while the men turn over the ground to prepare for the next crop. (Also, the fact that it has one of my favourite actresses of that period, helped cement that choice.)
So. A dozen festivals. A dozen songs. (Even if I sneaked in two Malayalam ones.) What festivals or songs would you add to this list?
p.s. Happy Onam to all my Malayali readers.
So. A dozen festivals. A dozen songs. (Even if I sneaked in two Malayalam ones.) What festivals or songs would you add to this list?
p.s. Happy Onam to all my Malayali readers.
