Celebration tradition…
– Photo: Amar Ujala
Expansion
As soon as Holi starts, in many villages of the district, the beats of bombs (drums) and mridang force the people around to dance. In villages like Kherli Hafizpur, Rupwas, Dujana, Devta, Jamalpur around Greater Noida, the tradition of 250 to 300 years is still going on. On one side, where the color of Holi is going on, on the other side, young and old people add color to the festival by singing Holi songs to the tunes of drums. Sometimes they are accompanied by the tunes of gongs and other instruments. For years, the competition of drumming excites the youth as well. Taking part in the competition and getting the turban tied after winning has also become a pride for the youth. Now it has become a symbol of gathering of villagers at one place instead of being just a competition. Elderly villagers of Kherli Hafizpur of Bilaspur say that two and a half to three hundred years ago the villagers used to gather at one place. During this, the head of the village used to announce to play Holi by playing the drum. Gradually other people also started playing drums and dancing on the occasion of Holi. Villagers of Rupwas village of Dadri say that in olden times small drums were played. Now big drums are being played at all places according to the convenience. from amar ujala Sandeep Verma, Rishipal Singh and Hariprakash Bawa A report from …
Honored by tying a turban on his head
- The tradition of years is still intact in Dujana village of Dadri region. This village is the biggest gram panchayat of the district. Bomb playing competition is organized here on Holi. This competition is organized at a place known as Holi Wala Kuan in the village. Every locality of the village participates in the competition. The people of the village felicitate the drum beaters by giving them a bag of jaggery (about two and a half kilos of jaggery) and by tying a turban.
- In Dujana village itself, there is a temple of grandmother Sati, years old. Bomb competition is going on in the fair held every year on Holi in Dadi Sati temple premises. The villagers say that this fair has been held for almost 300 years. The story behind the fair is that Bhagirath of Dujana was married to Ramkaur, a resident of Pali village in Haryana. Shortly after marriage, Bhagirath went to fight the war and became a martyr. Before the information came, Ramkaur’s wife had sensed something untoward. On getting the information, Ramkaur had taken Agni Samadhi. The villagers built a temple at his tomb and the tradition of holding a fair started there. Since then, the tradition of drumming continues at this place as well.
In the fair held at the temple of Dadi Sati, the drum beats for years.
- In Dujana village itself, there is a temple of grandmother Sati, years old. Bomb competition is going on in the fair held every year on Holi in Dadi Sati temple premises. The villagers say that this fair has been held for almost 300 years. The story behind the fair is that Bhagirath of Dujana was married to Ramkaur, a resident of Pali village in Haryana. Shortly after marriage, Bhagirath went to fight the war and became a martyr. Before the information came, Ramkaur’s wife had sensed something untoward. On getting the information, Ramkaur had taken Agni Samadhi. The villagers built a temple at his tomb and the tradition of holding a fair started there. Since then, the tradition of drumming continues at this place as well.
Inauguration of Holika Dahan by blowing bombs
There is a tradition of burning Holika by beating drums in Rupwas village of Dadri. Here the Mukadam family starts the Holika Dahan for many generations. The practice of playing Nagada in Roopvas has been going on for about three hundred years. People from both the different localities of the village start preparations about three weeks before Holi. Here, dividing into groups, youths on both sides play seven drums each for hours.
Competition lasts for several hours
There are single and team competitions for drumming. It takes a lot of strength as well as practice to play the drums. In such a situation, there is a competition of drumming for many hours. People who show courage in this are remembered.
