Senior citizens lament over fading aura of Teej

Ghodaghodi (Kailali), Aug 26: Madal was one of the significant traditional musical instruments giving an original aura to songs sung during the Teej festival. 

The women folks, especially the sisters come to the parental homes, used to sing the songs reflecting the plights and experience they had over the year that used to be resonated with by playing the madal together. 

Playing madal, a cylindrical hand drum, and singing songs on life stories were not mere recreation but the best medium of the upwelling of the emotional states. 

"Actually playing madal used to begin immediately after the completion of rice plantation in Saun month, setting the ambience of forthcoming Teej festival," recalled 61-year old Parbati Devi Khatri from Ghodaghodi municipality-8, adding those are the days lost in thin air. 

Another 63-year-old Toladevi Bista has similar account: "Teej was a moment to share plight for women. But, now it is becoming a tawdry business. It is no more the occasion to show relief by releasing the burden." 

Time changed. Madal is replaced with sound system and modern songs, which make the senior citizens rue over the bygone days.

In view of Tika Chaudhari Bhul, chief of Kailali district coordination committee, the commercial songs and tawdry melodies that are played during Teej celebration are denting much the original tune and aura.

The songs sung during Teej were also sung even during other festivities including marriage ceremony in those days.

"We had to stay patient even till Teej to visit my parental home. If the relative (brother) had not come to invite, we could not got the parental homes then," remembered Maiti Budhathoki, 65, claiming that there was emotional depth and originality in the songs played in harmony of madal and mujura. 

The popular instrument of the time, madal, is hardly heard around these days during Teej.

Deputy Mayor of Ghodaghodi municipality, Guliya Kumari Chaudhary, observed Teej celebration has witnessed radical change for some years. Gimmicky and equivocal words are used in the songs these days. "Those old days of Teej songs with madal playing is hardly found these days," she added.

Madal is one of the traditional musical instruments that is losing market. Even those making madal have faced challenges in sustaining their business.

A madal entrepreneur Tirtha Badi from Lamkichuha municipality-3, said, "It is very difficult to sell madal now." He also blames the fading originality in song behind dwindling business of the cylindrical hand dram. 

In this connection, Ghodaghodi municipality has made efforts to conserve the ancient songs and culture by organizing folk songs and Teej celebration. 

The local level organized a competitive Teej celebration this year yesterday, so that it would contribute to keeping alive the Teej aura, claimed Mayor Khadka Rawat. (RSS)