মালদহ জেলার ঐতিহ্যশালী লোকসংস্কৃতি : গম্ভীরা উৎসব ও গম্ভীরা পালা গান / The rich folk culture of Malda district: Gambhira festival and Gambhira folk songs

Abstract

Gambhira is a traditional folk culture of Malda district. The Gambhira festival has been prevalent in Malda since ancient times. The Gambhira festival is celebrated in all three regions of Malda: Tal, Diar, and Barind. While the Gambhira festival is primarily celebrated during Chaitra Sankranti (the last day of the Bengali month of Chaitra), in some areas it is also celebrated in the months of Baishakh, Jyeshtha, and even Asharh. To preserve this ancient tradition, the Gambhira festival is celebrated annually as a grand festival in various areas of Old Malda, including Phulbari, Mokhatipur, Rajak Para, Kuttipara, Tarapur, Phulbaria, Jotpur, and Bachamari. The Gambhira festival has four stages: Ghat Bhara (filling the pot), Chhoto Tamasha (small performance), Boro Tamasha (large performance), and Ahara Puja (a specific ritual). During this festival, Gambhira songs are performed in different neighborhoods. The songs performed during this time primarily focus on social and family issues. Thus, Gambhira folk songs are a part of the Gambhira festival. When Gambhira songs are performed outside the festival context, they highlight social, family, and political problems and suggest solutions. Gambhira songs are a significant medium for conveying social messages. Currently, Gambhira songs have gained widespread popularity, extending beyond the Gambhira festival itself. They are not only popular in Malda district but have also gained international recognition. Currently, various documentaries are being made based on Gambhira, and Gambhira masks are used in various puja pandals and home decorations. While the Gambhira festival has specific dates and auspicious times for its celebration, there are no such restrictions for performing Gambhira songs. Gambhira artists are fearless and possess a secular character. Gambhira folk songs once inspired freedom fighters. The British were wounded by the sharp, incisive words of these songs. Even today, on stage, Gambhira artists fearlessly and impartially use witty and humorous language to criticize wrongdoers and hypocritical individuals. Gambhira folk songs are usually sung in the regional dialect, making them easily understandable to ordinary people. Gambhira songs express their subject matter in a satirical manner, infused with simple and straightforward humor, something that is not comprehensively possible for any other folk medium. In this respect, Gambhira plays the role of a folk educator. Unlike other folk art forms, the subject matter of Gambhira is not fixed; it changes according to contemporary circumstances. During a Gambhira performance, the artists utilize their quick wit to spontaneously create Gambhira dialogues. Currently, through the organization of various workshops on Gambhira, the artists are making strenuous efforts to promote and propagate Gambhira collectively.