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Bengal’s dhakis set festivity mood in Jharkhand
More than 15,000 dhakis from West Bengal, mainly Bankura, Purulia, Bishnupur, Birbhum and West Midnapore districts, migrate to Jharkhand during the puja season
Bengal’s dhakis with their traditional musical instruments are setting the mood for Durga Puja festivity at various pandals in Jharkhand from Saturday.
Durga puja in eastern region is considered to be incomplete without the sound of dhaks (traditional drum), which is played along with other instruments like shenai, jhanj and sankh (conch) in every Puja Pandal. Bengal’s dhakis rule Jharkhand at least in this sector.
More than 15,000 dhakis from West Bengal, mainly Bankura, Purulia, Bishnupur, Birbhum and West Midnapore districts arrived in Jharkhand’s various cities, particularly Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Dhanbad, Hazaribagh, Ramgarh and other cities.
When people make it a point to meet their family members and relatives, Bablu Badyokar, a dhaki, along with his team left his village in West Bengal on Thursday to set mood for the festivity in Ranchi.
“Playing dhak is our tradition. My father has been playing dhaki during Durga puja for last 40 years. Now, I carry forward the tradition,” said Badyokar.
Badyokar, who comes from remote Kapista village in West Bengal’s Bankura district, said they were also in demand in their state but remuneration was lower than in Jharkhand.
A two-member team could easily make Rs 8,000-10,000 in Jharkhand but the same team would get hardly Rs 5,000 in West Bengal, said Gobind Mahato, another dhaki said.
Most of the dhakis belong to poor families. For them, Durga puja is an opportunity to make quick money for their family.
“It is very tough for us to leave family members during Durga Puja. But, we have no other alternatives to make money,” said Mahato, adding: “We try to make most of our stay in cities during festivals, mainly Durga Puja and Kali Puja.”
Subir Lahiri, a Ranchi-based cultural activist, said: “The dhak-beats are an integral part of Durga puja. Despite advent of several electronic gadgets and electronic music system, the dhak-beat has yet not lost its sheen.
