Folks songs of Gujarat

Different types, forms and group of the songs with their peculiar nature and varieties

Abstract

Folksongs are generally defined as songs which exist in the repository of a folk-group. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, folksongs are “primitive spontaneous music.” It does not mean that the folksongs were composed in the by-gone and olden days. The process of production, revision, improvement and even corruption of folksongs is continual. A folksong is neither new nor old; it is like a forest tree with its roots deeply buried in the past but which continually puts forth new branches, new leaves and new fruits. A folksong is interwoven with the aspirations, ethos and pathos of a primitive community. With increase in literacy and modernization, the treasure is neither discarded nor buried but is certainly better preserved although production of new songs or addition to old songs decreases gradually because those gifted with poetic talents, take to other advanced forms of poetry.

A folksong is a lyrical, short, simple, and less artistic but rhythmic song of a folk-community. It generally reflects the social heritage, the environment and the folk life in a particular territory. It is usually created for entertainment, enjoyment or emotional outlet that can be easily sung, understood and learnt on different social occasions by all the members of the folk-group with no distinction of singer and listener. It requires no prior setting and no professional skill. It has the capacity of frequent addition, depletion and modification and has no known originator or possessor. It is transmitted, circulated and perpetuated spontaneously through oral tradition from person to person to person or from generation to generation.

The folksongs by conveying simple thoughts pertaining to a community’s traditions, beliefs, rituals, social values, norms, festivals, heroic deeds, love and hate and everyday problems in simple language and style, present a community’s way of life. These songs are, in a real sense, wealth among the illiterate and undereducated society, handed down from generation to generation. The songs spring from the innermost heart out of emotions through the vehicle of the mouth. Folksongs, like any other modern songs, are the combination of words and music, while the words are taken from local dialects, the music is full of regional character. Thus, folksongs are influenced by regional dialects and intimately reflect the regional mental setting. The primitive man used many gestures and later sang to communicate his emotions, needs and ideas. The burden of joy or sorrow, pain or passion in the heart was relieved only through singing and these became the folksongs.

In every society, the significance attached to folksongs is connected with its social role or with the social function which it fulfils. Folksongs survive in a particular society only because these fulfill certain social functions. The study of folksongs may contribute to our understanding of culture and its functioning in human societies.

Some of the aspects of folksongs serve as a vehicle for social protest for when some sort of hesitation is felt in making complaints directly against injustices, oppressions and exploitations, people find solace through singing of folksongs.

Folksongs play a significant part in fulfilling the ritual functions of various rites and ceremonies prevalent in the villages. Songs are an essential part of the birth and marriage rites. In India, even now, hardly any wedding can be performed or a child birth celebrated without singing folksongs. Thus, the daily life of an average individual, from birth to death, finds an expression in folksongs. Therefore, the oral tradition of folklore is a vital part of one’s socio-cultural milieu and deserves serious attention from social scientists who can hardly ignore this important aspect of culture and its function in the sustenance of social structure.  

Gujarati folk songs, it seems, are more abundant and richer than those of the sister languages. Inclusion of the selected ones in a single paper or presentation is quite difficult. However, I have tried my best to represent different types, forms and groups of the songs wire peculiar nature and varieties.

Many types of songs are prevalent in Gujarat as in other parts of India. There are religious songs sung in praise of goddesses, gods, and local deities. Mothers sing Halardu songs which are commonly known as lullaby. Sisters sing lyrical songs to their younger brothers. Many romantic songs related to the daily life, marriage songs sung on various occasions during marriage ceremonies, songs related to fairs and festivals, historical songs, etc., are common with the folks. Women also sing marsiya, the aligies sung on the death of a young person.

There are communities who sing various songs like the shepherds sing Duha among the hills. The various activities are also made melodious with the association of the singing, like, women sing song while grinding, fetching water from the well and harvest songs are sung to the rhythm of the various crops. Bhajans and miscellaneous songs sung on different occasions are the inner-most feelings and expression of the people. To have a glimps of this rich cultural heritage, a few songs are appended in this paper.