Jogira is declining

By Dhirendra Prasad Sah,Janakpur, Mar. 12: Jogira, which once resounded from village to town during the Fagu Purnima, is now rarely heard.

Due to the shortage of Jogira singers and artists, the new generation is unfamiliar with this tradition.

On the other side, with the advancement of modern technology and the easy access of internet facility, the tradition of singing Jogira has been declining in various districts of Madesh Province.  

  As a result, the Jogira singing skills have become rare among the younger generation.

A decade ago, with the arrival of Fagu Purnima (Holi) festival, Jogira songs could be heard everywhere, from village huts to city streets. 

However, today, Jogira is largely confined to mobile phones, YouTube, and online platforms.

 In the past, Jogira was sung collectively in villages across the Madhesh Province until midnight during the Holi festival. Now, such gatherings are rare.

Doman Sah, 35, said that people now listen to and watch such songs more through the media than in traditional settings.

 As Holi approaches, local FM radio stations allocate more time to playing Jogira in Maithili, Bhojpuri, and Hindi languages. 

Beyond personal listening, Jogira continues to echo in villages, town squares, tea stalls, and hotels through these media channels.

Arun Mandal, a radio technician, said that before FM radios and advanced technology, villagers would gather for a month before Holi to sing Jogira collectively. 

Back then, people of different age groups including youths, adults, and the elderly formed separate singing groups and performed Jogira in village courtyards, accompanied by traditional instruments like the Mridanga, Jhyali, Harmonium, Madal, and Dholak, from evening until late at night. 

Jogira singers used to sing in praise of deities, incorporating humour, love, separation and joy in their songs. 

Although radio, television, and YouTube have helped preserve and promote this cultural tradition, artist Bhupendra Kumar Mandal expressed concern that individual singing, dancing, and instrumental skills are diminishing.

Those who have moved away from their villages for work or business still listen to Jogira through the internet on radio, television and YouTube.

 Mandal said that although people still care about Jogira, the lack of time and the decreasing number of people living in villages have made Jogira reliant on modern technology, he added.

Elderly villagers recalled that in the past, people would return home a month before Holi to sing Jogira and enjoy the festivities late into the night. This communal singing strengthened social harmony, brotherhood, and unity. 

Jogira helped resolve misunderstandings, conflicts and disputes, fostering a sense of togetherness. 

It was also considered a preparatory practice for playing Phagadol, a traditional Holi game involving colours.

 However, with the decline of Jogira, Phagadol has also been affected.

 Instead of being sung in rhythm, Phagadol is now played using sound systems. 

Similarly, the practice of visiting every household in the village to play Phagadol with colours has shifted to playing it with loudspeakers.

Without integration into education and cultural programmes, Jogira artists cannot be nurtured, and the tradition may become a thing of the past for future generations. 

Dinesh Yadav, a member of the Madhesh Pragya Pratisthan, said that efforts were being made to preserve language, literature, art, culture and music. 

The Madhesh provincial government, through the institution, has undertaken various initiatives for the protection and promotion of folk art and culture.  He emphasised the need to preserve both art and artists.