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The state of Haryana is bounded by Uttar Pradesh in the east, Punjab in the west, Himachal Pradesh in the north and Rajasthan in the south. The Union Territory of Delhi juts into Haryana and is encompassed by it on three sides. The south west of the Haryana is dry sandy and barren. The natural boundaries are: the Shivalik hills in the north, River Yamuna in the east and river Ghaggar in the west. The south western boundary is provided by the range of Aravalli hills, which run through southern Delhi and the Gurgaon district up to Alwar. There are some high ridges running from the north-west to south-east with numerous spurs branching out in all directions. These hills are known as the Morni and Tipra ranges. They belong to the outer ranges of the Himalayas. RIVERSHaryana has no perennial rivers. The important rivers are Yamuna, the Saraswati and the Ghaggar. Several small streams flows through the state they are the Markanda, the Sahibi and Indori. Yamuna is the most important river in the state. It has its source in the hills at Kalesar and is the source of irrigation for large tracts in the districts of Ambala, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Hissar and Rohtak through the western Yamuna canals. The river Saraswati begins in the large depression at Kalawar in the north of the Mustafabad Pargana of Jagadhri. The Ghaggar rises in the outer Himalayan ranges between the Yamuna and the Sutlej. CLIMATEThe climate of Haryana over most of the year is of a pronounced continental character. It is very hot in summer and markedly cold in winter. The rainfall in the region is low and erratic except in parts of the Karmal and Ambala districts. The rainfall is unevenly distributed during the year except for two well marked seasons. One is the monsoon period lasting from the middle of June to the end of September on which autumn crop and spring sowing depend and the other is the winter rains which occur from December to February, benefiting rabi crop. Rainfall is meager, particularly in the districts of Mahendragarh and Hissar. ARTSFOLK DANCERas Leela This dance is common among the people living in the Braja area of the Faridabad district. Lord Vishnu has been manifest in many incarnations. He is the supreme embodiment. He is Lord Krishna. The Gopis of Braj Bhoomi, the simple milk maid are his true devotees. Krishna choose them as the finest examples of human beings. Radha, the most beautiful of the Gopis, proud of her beauty and power over men was the last one to surrender to the utter bliss of the lord. Ras Leela becomes a dance of spiritual ecstasy with God pervading the world as his own self and as the selves of the dancing gopis. The gopis form a circle around a Krishna. In this circular dance the bracelets ,anklets and the bells of the gopis sound together in perfect harmony. Gopis moving in Rhythm, sway their bodies gracefully. Phag Dance or Phalgun or "Faag" Dance This is a seasonal dance ,through which agricultural people express their joy and vigour. During the month of February -March ,they have a little leisure between sowing and harvesting. The crops are growing well, the spring is on and the rural folk express themselves through song and dance. In this dance men and women group together. The rhythm takes them on to emotional expression through their hands, eyes, and feet. The dance involves a variety of movement ,requiring sound co-ordination. Women wear traditional costumes in different colours. Men similarly display different colours in their turbans. They sing in the ancient Daamal style, a combination of dance and song, the origin of which dates to the hoary past, it is a mixed dance but some times it is performed by men only. The songs are different in each case. Daph dance Daph dance is also a seasonal dance connected with the harvest and spring. It depicts the joyful emotions of the farmers. Men and women of all sections of the village community participate in this dance, separately. For melodic instruments the ancient Haryanavis used flutes, lutes and beens. The daph used in this dance is an ancient instrument. The songs are most suited to the occasion. The sound of the ornaments worn by the women also becomes a part of the dance-orchestra. Dhamal Dance Dhamal dance is as old as the Mahabharatha. It is popular among the Ahirs of Gurgaon district. It is also in vogue in Mahendargarh and Jhajjar. The dance is rooted in the deeper emotions of the people, is performed on moonlit nights of Phalgun. When the winter veil of fog and mist is lifted from the face of the earth and whisper of spring is in the air indeed. The dancers assemble in an open space and form themselves into a circle. They start with a song to the sound of Dhamal beats. The songs sung during the dance relate to the burden of love and labour. They depict the villager's hopes, aspirations, their love -longings and joys and sorrows. Between fifteen and twenty dancers participate in the dance. Old musical instruments like Sarangi, Been, Dholak and Khartals constitute the orchestra. First of all the orchestra men make a line and start playing folk tunes. The dancers move in front of them emerging right and left when the dance starts. FOLK MUSICHaryana has a rich tradition of folk music. Even villages have been named after classical ragas. In Dadri tehsil, several villages have names related to well known ragas. These are Nandyam, Sarangpur, Bilawala, Brindabana, Todi, Asaveri, Jaishri, Malakoshna, Hindola, Bhairavi, Gopi Kalyana etc. Similarly in Jind district there are Jai Jai Vanti, Malavi etc. The folk music of Haryana generally falls in to two categories (1) Classical form: The group song that is closely linked with the classical form of singing comes under this category. The themes of such songs are usually mythological. Allah, Jaimalphalla, Barahmas, some Teej songs, Phag and Holi songs belong to this group. (2) Country side music: This group includes legendary tales, such as Purana-Bhagata, ceremonial songs, seasonal songs, ballads etc. Its music survives in cross-cultural traits of social rapport. In such songs Jai Jai Vanti, Pahari, Bhairavi, Kafi, Jhinjhoti and Bhairav ragas are used. Raga Pilu is also used in some songs sung by the Ahirs, using a scale with twelve semi tones. The main credit for popularizing folk music in Haryana goes to Jogis, Bhats and Saangis. The Jogis use Sarangi as an accompaniment to their songs. They are proficient in using Allah, Jaimal-phatta and other heroic ballads with their rich melodies and resonant-appealing voice. FOLK THEATREThe tradition of folk theatre in Haryana is very old. Plays, to begin with were staged in the open with audience sitting around. A combination of music, dance, poetry and speech was called Natya. In Hindu mythology, the gods themselves figure as supreme dancers. Drama was created not merely for pleasure but for conveying moral truths. The first Sanskrit Drama emerged from the festival of Indra's Banner, which celebrated the triumph of the gods over the demons. Folk theatre is divided into two categories (1) Temple based religious theatre with Indian Epics and Puranas being the source material for characters. (2) Community-based secular theatre, of minor forms and lighter variety. In reality several themes are mixed together - mythological love, popular history and religious themes, all with overtones of secular values. Haryana Swang follows in the old tradition, being the most popular variety of performance based on the 'open stage' technique. It is an all male cultural troupe of twenty to thirty artistes, including the director, producer musicians and actors. The female roles are also played by males, but female troupes are not altogether unknown. Towards the end of the nineteenth century and beginning of the present, all women Swang troupes performed in western Uttar Pradesh and the adjoining 'Khadar 'area of Haryana. The origin of Swang is traced to one Kishan Lala Bhat, who laid the foundation of the present style of folk theatre. In Haryana the most celebrated name is that of Dip Chand Bahman of village Shiri Khunda in Sonepat. He was popularly known as Shaskespeare or Kalidas of Haryana. The stage of Swang does not require the elaborate arrangements of the modern dramatic performances. There are no curtains or a green-room for make-up. There is only a wooden plat form about three and a half metres long and of the same breadth. The rest is all a display of skill and stamina of the artistes who perform as long as six hours. They do not use loudspeakers. An hour before the show, the musicians of the orchestra begin to create the proper atmosphere. The artistes sing some religious or other songs connected with the play. Then the Guru appears ands the artists touch the feet to evoke his blessings. The play opens with a song bhait in praise of the Goddess of knowledge (Bhawani). With a brief introduction about the play, the performance starts. The Haryan Swang has enriched it self by borrowing and adopting a variety of themes, it embraces romances like Sorath, Nihalde, Padmawat, Nautanki etc. There are historical and semi-historical themes based on Epics, such as Raja Rissalu, Kichak Badh, Draupadi Chirharan, Amar Sing Rathor, Sarwar Neer, Jaswant Singh etc. Themes of old literature, such as Gopi Chand Bhartari Hari, Harischander, Raja Bhoj etc are also adopted. Mythological themes like Prahlad Bhagat and Punjabi romances like Pooran Bhagat, Heer Ranjha etc have become a part of the vast and varied themes on which the Haryanvi rural theatre operates. FAIRS AND FESTIVALSFESTIVALSDiwali In Haryana Diwali is celebrated with great enthusiasm. It comes in the middle of the month of Karthik. First comes the little Diwali on which rice and sugar put in vessels, with a paisa placed on the top, are given away to Brahmins and girls. The deceased ancestors are said to visit the house of their families on that day, and it is in their name that the ceremony is performed. Houses are whitewashed and cleaned. On the next day, or Govardhan, Diwali lamps are lighted in the evening and sweets distributed. On the following day all the sweepings are thrown out on to the refused dumps outside the village. The old lamps are also thrown their and new ones placed in the house. The rich and trading classes specially consider Diwali as their own festival. On this occasion they perform pujas, which are considered auspicious for their profession. Diwali is also celebrated by gambling in various ways throughout the night accompanied by merry making. For children Diwali provides an occasion for fire works. More about Diwali Dussera Dussera is probably the chief Hindu festival, being associated with the great Epic Ramayana and its renowned hero, Rama. The celebrations last nearly a month. First come the Shradas, early in September and lasts over a fortnight. The Brahmins are fed on these days in memory of the deceased elders of the family. The Shradas are followed by Nauratas, which as the name implies are nine in number. Oats sown in the field or deposited in big utensils, are watered on each of these days. On the Dussera day, pudding (halwa) is eaten with rice and cured. The Brahmins are also fed. All the members of the family except woman put stalks of green oats on their head. Ram Leela is enacted in various places. On the last day the effigies of the demon king Ravana and his supporters are burned, which forms the concluding event. More about Dussera Holi Holi is celebrated with considerable zest, particularly in the area bordering Uttar Pradesh. Four days before the festival, married women play Holi with their men folk by throwing coloured water on them. The day following Holi, Dhulandi (Phag), men folk throw water on women who retaliate by a mock beating with sticks or kolras (twisted cloth strips). The men act as if they are powerless and they pretended attempts at shielding themselves lead to much fun and amusement. More about Holi Gugga Naumi This is a religious festival, celebrated all over Haryana. It is connected with snake-worship and observed in August-September. A number of legends have clustered around Gugga Pir or Zahir Pir (the saint). He is also referred to as Baggar wala because of his grave near Dadrewa near Ganga nagar, a tract over which he is said to have ruled. He was reputed to have the power of curing people of snake-bite. Monday is his day, the date being 9th. The shrine is distinguished by its square shape with minarets and domed roof. It is called 'Mari'. Bathing at Sohna Sohna is famous for its hot springs, which have medicinal qualities, several thousand people assemble at Sohna on Somwati Amawas to bathe in sulphur springs. The crowd would be small if the festival happens to fall during harvest-time. Other festivals are Ram Naumi, Solono (Raksha Bandhan) and Bhai Duj. FAIRSGopal-Mochan Fair In Ambala, the most famous fair is held at Gopal-Mochan near Bilaspur in Jagadhari tehsil. There is a sacred tank of the same name in the place. The legend is that once Lord Shiva while rescuing Saraswati, who was being pursued by Brahma, struck off the latter's head. A lock of hair was left in Shiva's hand and his body was blackened. For a long time Shiva was unable to cleanse himself. One night, when he was resting at a cow shed he overheard the conversation between a cow and her calf. The calf said he was going to kill his master, a Brahmin, to avoid being castrated. The cow tried to dissuade the calf from the sin, but the calf said, it knew of a tank where it could cleanse itself from the sin of killing a Brahmin. Shiva followed the calf the next day and saw it kill its master. The bodies of the cow and the calf where then blackened until they cleansed themselves by bathing in Gopal Mochan tank. Shiva followed their example and was like wise cleansed. Since then the water of Gopal-Mochan have retained their virtue. It is considered by many to be more efficacious than the waters of the Ganges at Hardwar. The Rin Mochan is another water tank situated close to the Gopal-Mochan. A big fair is held in the village in the month of Kartik. Masani Fair Haryana's most famous fair is held in honour of the goddess of small-pox, Masani whose temple is in Gurgaon village. There is a legend about this temple. There was a shrine, sacred to the goddess Devi, locally known as Masani at the village of Kesopur in the Delhi district. Some two hundred and fifty years ago according to tradition, the Goddess appeared in a dream to one Singha, a Jat of some influence and a resident at the village of Gurgaon. The Devi communicated to Singha that she wished to leave Kesopur and directed him to construct a shrine for her in his village. At the same time, she authorised the fortunate Singha to appropriate all the offerings at her shrine. The orders of the goddess were promptly carried out. The shrine was built and flourished, its fame spreading far and wide . A visit to the shrine is an antidote for small-pox and women from great distances flock to it with their children to obtain this benefit. The greatest crowd is in April-May but all the year around steady stream of people flows, Monday being the favourite day. Singha and his heirs enjoyed the offerings for two hundred years. Basdoda Fair At the village of Basdoda in Rewari tehsil there is an ancient temple of Bhaironji. A fair is held on Chatsudi 11th, and the two following days. For this, people come from as far as Delhi and Agra. Melas Mela Devi is held at Beri in Jhajjar of Rohtak district, twice a year. According to a Legend, the image of goddess Bhumeshwari Devi was brought from the hills and installed at Beri. Newly married couples blessed with a son come here to pay homage. Mela Baba Mast Nath is held in February-march each year at the Samadhi of the saint at Bohar near Rohtak. It is also held at Khera Sadh and the people worship both at the Samadhi and the temple. Sat kumbh fair is a religious celebration and is held at Kheri Gujar (Sonepat) twice a year. At the village of Khori-Shah-Choka in the Firozpur-Jherka tehsil of the Gurgaon. Meos gather in large numbers on the 5th to 7th Jama-di-Ul-awal, the object of their pilgrimage being the tomb of Saint Shah Choka. Hindus also attend the Mela. This fair used to be a great occasion for elopements. Surajkund is a village which lies 20 Kms from Delhi between the villages of Baharpur and Lakkarpur. It is famous for the crafts fair held between the 1st and 15th February every year. The mela brings together crafts persons from all over India like potters, embroiderers, weavers, wood carvers, metal workers, stone smiths, painters etc. For entertainment there will be performances by folk dancers, musicians, acrobats and magicians. Folk theatre(1) Temple based religious theatre with Indian Epics and Puranas being the source material for characters. (2) Community-based secular theatre, of minor forms and lighter variety. In reality several themes are mixed together - mythological love, popular history and religious themes, all with overtones of secular values. Haryana Swang follows in the old tradition, being the most popular variety of performance based on the 'open stage' technique. It is an all male cultural troupe of twenty to thirty artistes, including the director, producer musicians and actors. The female roles are also played by males, but female troupes are not altogether unknown. Towards the end of the nineteenth century and beginning of the present, all women Swang troupes performed in western Uttar Pradesh and the adjoining 'Khadar 'area of Haryana. The origin of Swang is traced to one Kishan Lala Bhat, who laid the foundation of the present style of folk theatre. In Haryana the most celebrated name is that of Dip Chand Bahman of village Shiri Khunda in Sonepat. He was popularly known as Shaskespeare or Kalidas of Haryana. The stage of Swang does not require the elaborate arrangements of the modern dramatic performances. There are no curtains or a green-room for make-up. There is only a wooden plat form about three and a half metres long and of the same breadth. The rest is all a display of skill and stamina of the artistes who perform as long as six hours. They do not use loudspeakers. An hour before the show, the musicians of the orchestra begin to create the proper atmosphere. The artistes sing some religious or other songs connected with the play. Then the Guru appears ands the artists touch the feet to evoke his blessings. The play opens with a song bhait in praise of the Goddess of knowledge (Bhawani). With a brief introduction about the play, the performance starts. The Haryan Swang has enriched it self by borrowing and adopting a variety of themes, it embraces romances like Sorath, Nihalde, Padmawat, Nautanki etc. There are historical and semi-historical themes based on Epics, such as Raja Rissalu, Kichak Badh, Draupadi Chirharan, Amar Sing Rathor, Sarwar Neer, Jaswant Singh etc. Themes of old literature, such as Gopi Chand Bhartari Hari, Harischander, Raja Bhoj etc are also adopted. Mythological themes like Prahlad Bhagat and Punjabi romances like Pooran Bhagat, Heer Ranjha etc have become a part of the vast and varied themes on which the Haryanvi rural theatre operates. |
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