Kumaoni Holi

The Origin of the forms of Holi especially Baithaki Holi musical traditions are in 15th century Champawat (court of the Chand kings) where the musical traditions of Braj mixed with Kumaoni musical traditions of Khadi Holi Of Champawat (Sui, Gumdesh, bilde & bishung) The Ustads which came from the plains (places like Rampur ) made the singing of Holi famous & loved not just among the rulers but also with the common masses, who slowly adopted it and gave it a distinctive Kumauni flavour. A style which is a unique blend of classical music and folk. While, to some it might resemble Thumri because of the presence of Shringar Ras in it but it is totally different, the way the Bandish are rendered, elaborated and the way some of the Raags are presented. With the spread of Chand rule and integration of Kumaon under them the Holi traditions spread all across Kumaon and acquired their distinct Kumaoni flavour.

Baithki Holi (बैठकी होली), (literally Sitting Holi) is a form of musical gatherg starting from the day of Basant Panchmi held all across Kumaon till the Dulhendi (or the last full moon day of the lunar month Phalguna). In some areas of Kumaon it starts even earlier at the peak of winter on the first Sunday of the Indian month of Paush that is in the month of December and they celebrates baithaki holi till March (4 months) and during baithaki holi they do not use colours to celebrate.

The Baithaki Holi songs are based on the classical traditions of Hindustani Classical Music but have heavy influence of Kumaoni folk music traditions.

The Baithki Holi begins from the premises of temples, where Holiyars (होल्यार), (the singers of Holi songs) as also the people gather to sing songs to the accompaniment of classical music like harmonium and tabla. Generally starting from the first Sunday of Paush these are known as Nirvana Holi. Some of the holi's written by Swami Brahmanand are also sung and are called Brahmanand ki holi. From Shivratri the focus then Shifts to Shivpadi Holi's.

Most famous Baithaki Holi groups lives in Pati, Champawat district. And there is at least one musical player in all families. They sings their own made baithaki holi songs in regional kumaoni language or hindi language.

Kumaonis are very particular about the time when the songs based on ragas should be sung. For instance, at noon the songs based on Pilu, Bhimpalasi and Sarang ragas are sung while evening is reserved for the songs based on the ragas like Kalyan, Shyamkalyan, Kafi, Jaijawanti etc. There is a certain distinctiveness in the presentation of ragas (melodies) too and some of them like Janglakafi (which is a special ang of khamaj) are unique to kumauni holi The Taal's used are also unique. Dhamaar taal in kumauni holi has 16 matra's rather than 14 as in Indian classical music tradition. The other most widely used taal is known as Chanchar which also has 16 matra's. Other than these Teental and keharwa are widely used & at times one may also find Dadra being used but in most common case it is Chanchar -Teental -Keharwa in a Sitarkhani gat. The Baithaks or sittings are held in the local community centres and even at local homes. It generally starts with Rag Dhamaar and ends with Rag Bhairavi.

The songs are usually religious in nature and concern tales from the life of the Hindu God Krishna and Ram . Still these Baithaks are an inter-religious affair as even Muslims and Christians participate in these gatherings.

होली राग--- समुझाय रही राधा नन्द, नन्द कुवर समुझय, होली खेलो फागुन ऋतु आयी,जल कैसे भरूं।

Khadi Holi (खड़ी होली), (literally Standing Holi) usually starts along with but sometimes a little later than Baithaki Holi. It is mostly celebrated in the rural areas of Kumaon. The songs of the Khari Holi are sung by the people, sporting traditional white nokdaar topi, churidar payajama and kurta, dance in groups to the tune of ethnic musical instruments like the Dhol ,Joda (Metal Instrument) Hurka.

Men in groups singing Khadi holi songs which are much more Kumaoni in flavour than the classical renditions of the Baithaki holi visit different homes and greet the members of that house and chant hymns praying for prosperity of the householder. These groups of men are called Tolis.

Khadi Holi is filled with excitement and frolic as opposed to the more sombre nature of the Baithaki Holi. Example of a few commonly sung Khadi holi songs.

• झनकारो झनकारो झनकारो
  गौरी प्यारो लगो तेरो झनकारो - २
  तुम हो बृज की सुन्दर गोरी, मैं मथुरा को मतवारो
  चुंदरि चादर सभी रंगे हैं, फागुन ऐसे रखवारो।
  गौरी प्यारो…
  सब सखिया मिल खेल रहे हैं, दिलवर को दिल है न्यारो
  गौरी प्यारो…
  अब के फागुन अर्ज करत हूँ, दिल कर दे मतवारो
  गौरी प्यारो…
  भृज मण्डल सब धूम मची है, खेलत सखिया सब मारो
  लपटी झपटी वो बैंया मरोरे, मारे मोहन पिचकारी
  गौरी प्यारो…
  घूंघट खोल गुलाल मलत है, बंज करे वो बंजारो
  गौरी प्यारो लगो तेरो झनकारो -२[3]
• जोगी आयो शहर में व्योपारी -२
  अहा, इस व्योपारी को भूख बहुत है,
  पुरिया पकै दे नथ-वाली,
  जोगी आयो शहर में व्योपारी।
  अहा, इस व्योपारी को प्यास बहुत है,
  पनिया-पिला दे नथ वाली,
  जोगी आयो शहर में व्योपारी।
  अहा, इस व्योपारी को नींद बहुत है,
  पलंग बिछाये नथ वाली
  जोगी आयो शहर में व्योपारी -२[4]

They are gatherings similar to Baithaki but composed exclusively of women. Example of a common Mahila Holi song.

• बलमा घर आयो फागुन में -२

जबसे पिया परदेश सिधारे, आम लगावे बागन में, बलमा घर… चैत मास में वन फल पाके, आम जी पाके सावन में, बलमा घर… गऊ को गोबर आंगन लिपायो, आये पिया में हर्ष भई, मंगल काज करावन में, बलमा घर… प्रिय बिन बसन रहे सब मैले, चोली चादर भिजावन में, बलमा घर… भोजन पान बानये मन से, लड्डू पेड़ा लावन में, बलमा घर…' सुन्दर तेल फुलेल लगायो, स्योनिषश्रृंगार करावन में, बलमा घर… बसन आभूषण साज सजाये, लागि रही पहिरावन में, बलमा घर [4]

The Holika bonfire in Kumaun is known as Cheer (चीर) which is ceremonically made in a ceremony known as Cheer Bandhan (चीर बंधन) fifteen days before Dulhendi. The Cheer is basically a bonfire with a green Paiya tree branch in the middle. The Cheer of every village and mohalla is rigorously guarded as rival mohallas try to steal the others cheer. The cheer is the centre of the festivities.

The Cheer is burnt on the night before Holi and is known as Cheer Dahan is symbolic of the victory of the pious Prahlad over his evil father's plans.

Dulhendi known as Chharadi (छरड़ी), in Kumaoni (from Chharad (छरड़), or natural colours made from flower extracts, ash and water) is celebrated with great gusto much in the same way as all across North India. Principal ingredients of the celebration are Abeer and Gulal, in all possible colours. Next comes squirting of coloured water using pichkaris. Coloured water is prepared using Tesu flowers, which are first gathered from the trees, dried in the sun, and then ground up, and later mixed with water to produce orange-yellow coloured water. Another traditional Holi item now rarely seen is a red powder enclosed in globes of Lakh, which break instantly and cover the party with the powder.

The culmination of the holi celebrations takes place with throwing abeer, gulal in the air and reciting out aloud in unison the following prayer in Kumaoni for a healthy and prosperous year ahead.

हो हो हो लख रे (may you live a hundred thousand years)

हमार आमा बुबू जी रौला सौ लाख बरिस (may our grandparents live for a hundred thousand years)

हमार इजा बौजू जी रौला सौ लाख बरिस (may our parents live for a hundred thousand years)

हमार दाज्यू भौजी जी रौला सौ लाख बरिस (may our brothers and their families live for a hundred thousand years)

हो हो हो लख रे (may you live a hundred thousand years)