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A NIGHT TO REMEMBER

 A NIGHT TO REMEMBER

 

LT COL NOEL ELLIS

 

06/II/2023

 

It appears that the winters have suddenly moved away from the deserts. The afternoons are getting hotter and nights are still cool. If one takes a quilt, it is too warm, if you remove it, one feels cold. The only way it seems comfortable is with one foot out of it and retract it inside as soon as you sneeze.

 

Be that as it may. Yesterday, the Chand (Moon) apne poore shabab par tha. A full moon to put it simply. One could see a few ‘chand par daag, jab utha dheere-dheere woh chaand pyara pyara’. How hard I tried to capture the moon in my camera, chand would take an angrai. Moon’s brilliance was at its pinnacle and too beautiful to be missed.

 

The marriage season is here and we were invited to a friend’s daughter’s wedding. It was after ages we would revive the old Jodhpuri traditions which are followed at Christian weddings. It is called the ‘Peethi’ and Haldi ceremony.

 

The meetha pan, mithai, nariyal, garlands and lifafa are presented to the would-be bride. A ritualistic photo, followed by the community dinner and lots of socialising with friends over the loud noise of the DJ happened, besides a sumptuous meal of tastefully cooked Mutton Korma and Roomali roti.

 

Peethi, is followed by mehndi ceremony and further with ‘rati-jaga’. A tradition which has lost its sheen, firstly due to the decibel level restrictions and secondly due to restricted gatherings due to Covid. This is an after dinner ceremony when relatives have been well fed and their tanks topped up to say Hic-Hic instead of Wah-wah. It was Qawwali time.

 

The lead singers, chorus singers, banjo, harmonium, tabla and dholak players, the clappers all sat in a half moon on the stage, all set for the proceedings. The instruments were warmed up for a considerable time. Mikes were checked and rechecked till the acoustics and echo was perfect, as we sat in anticipation for the Qawwali to start. The only change was that instead of sitting on the floor with ‘gaau takias’ (Round cushions)for supporting our backs, it was on chairs.

 

The creation of ‘Mahaul’ or the mood for the night was done by the grandson of the qawwal whom we used to hear in our hey days. God Bless Jamal Mian’s soul. Once the mood sets in, the ‘Vaari’ or the tradition of showering money on the ‘baaja’ is what warms up the qawwals. The more the showers, louder their claps. The ‘samma bandhna’ as they say was super exciting.

 

The culmination of a qawwali is with the singing of ‘Doli’ for the girl and ‘Sehra’ for the boy as the last item. By then the moon is about to set and the sun is rearing to peep in. The night passes by and one wishes that the Silsila-e-qawwali continues. By then the audience is half asleep but the spirit of the qawwals is like the moon at its pinnacle.

 

With the stomach full with goodies and soul full with divine music it was time to move home while the moonlight lasted.

 

None of us felt cold. No one actually bothered about the cold. The atmosphere was so warm and welcoming that this night would remain ever fresh. My better half, who is a qawwali buff, swayed to the memories of the ‘sher-o-shayari’ which she grew up with. I am sure she came back home with an empty purse but in top spirits.

 

Modern music has its own place but it was great to see the Qawwali still part of our weddings. This form of singing is slowly dying and believe you me, this art form of singing deserves to be kept alive. How many of us would have tuned into a qawwali recently? I wonder!!!!!!!!!!

 

JAI HIND

 

© NOEL ELLIS




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