Gangu Ramola: A Garhwali Theatre, Drama based on Religious Folk-Rites /Folk Rituals

Notes on Theatres, Dramas based on Religious Folk-Rites /Folk Rituals; Asian Theatres, Dramas based on Religious Folk-Rites /Folk Rituals; South Asian Theatres, Dramas based on Religious Folk-Rites /Folk Rituals; SAARC Countries Theatres, Dramas based on Religious Folk-Rites /Folk Rituals; Indian subcontinent Theatres, Dramas based on Religious Folk-Rites /Folk Rituals; Indian Theatres, Dramas based on Religious Folk-Rites /Folk Rituals; North Indian Theatres, Dramas based on Religious Folk-Rites /Folk Rituals; Himalayan Theatres, Dramas based on Religious Folk-Rites /Folk Rituals; Mid Himalayan Theatres, Dramas based on Religious Folk-Rites /Folk Rituals; Uttarakhandi Theatres, Dramas based on Religious Folk-Rites /Folk Rituals; Kumauni Theatres, Dramas based on Religious Folk-Rites /Folk Rituals; Garhwali Theatres, Dramas based on Religious Folk-Rites /Folk Rituals

                                             Bhishma Kukreti

                              Nagraja is one of the main deities of Garhwal and Kumaun. Nagraja is incarnation of Lord Krishna. There are many religious folk tales related to lord Krishna in Garhwal and Kumaun. There are many Jagrs (a lyrical form of telling story in folk religious ritual) about lord Krishna or Nagraja in Garhwal and Kumaun. The Jagari (who narrates the lyrical religious folk ritual tales) narrates various folk religious ritual tales in a religious ceremony ‘Ghadela’. When Jagris narrate religious folk tale related to lord Krishna and play folk musical instruments –Daunru and   Thali the devotee (those on whose bodies   Krishna’s spirit enter) dance with rhythm.

               There are hundreds of temples related to Nagraja or lord Krishna in Garhwal and Kumaun. One of the famous temple of Nagraja or lord Krishna is Seem-Mukhim in Tihri Garhwal. Every year, lakhs of pilgrims come to visit as Seem Jatra and pay their offerings to Seem Mukhim from all corners of Garhwal and other parts of India.

     Jagris sing the religious folk tale of Gangu Ramola related to Seem Mukhim temples. The folk religious tales goes back to Dwapar era. Gangu Ramola was a prosperous landlord who had hundreds of caws, buffalos, goats, sheep, horses and fertile farms. Gangu Ramola has a wife Maina and did not have children. However Gangu Ramola was very proud and never likes to pay respect to guests or other people. His wife was opposite of Gangu – very mild, religious and helping nature.When gangu was hundred years old and his wife was eighty years old, one day at night , lord Krishna came his house in the form of sage. The sage asked for shelter but Gangu Ramola, even after hard persuasion from Maina refused to provide shelter to the sage. The sage became angy went from his house.

       In morning Gangu and his wife Maina swa with shock that their all domestic animals are in the form of stone.  Gangu and Maina understood easily that it happened because of curse by the sage.

   Gangu Ramola went to search the sage that he can beg pardon from the sage. In the way a Brahmin (lord Krishna) met him and told him that he should build temples in Seem region. Gangu build six temples there in Seem but every temple became invisible. Gangu and Maina became sad; there was an akshvani that these temples would be worshipped in the name of Gupt Seem. The Akashvani informed that the lord should be worshipped by milk and flowers. Gangu and Maina worshipped at temple as per instruction of Akashvani.  Lord Krishna became visible to Gangu Ramola and his wife. Gangu became fifteen years old and Maina became twelve years old young girl. All his animals became visible. Later on they got two sons Sidhwa and Bidhwa.

  The folk belief about Seem temple is a popular belief of Garhwal.

   Dinesh Gusai and his team wrote a fine drama ‘Gangu Ramola’ based on the above religious folk tale, folk ritual or folk rites of Garhwal.  Gadh Jagriti Sanskritik evam  Samajik  Samiti, Kotdwara presented and staged ‘Gangu Ramola’ drama based on  above religious folk tale, folk ritual or folk rites of Garhwal at the function of Uttarakhand Natya Mahotsav  organized by Akhil Garhwal Sabha , Dehradun in 2007.Dinesh Gusain directed  ‘Gangu Ramola’ based on the popular  religious folk tale, folk ritual or folk rites of Garhwal.

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti, 18/5/2012

Notes on Theatres, Dramas based on Religious Folk-Rites /Folk Rituals; Asian Theatres, Dramas based on Religious Folk-Rites /Folk Rituals; South Asian Theatres, Dramas based on Religious Folk-Rites /Folk Rituals; SAARC Countries Theatres, Dramas based on Religious Folk-Rites /Folk Rituals; Indian subcontinent Theatres, Dramas based on Religious Folk-Rites /Folk Rituals; Indian Theatres, Dramas based on Religious Folk-Rites /Folk Rituals; North Indian Theatres, Dramas based on Religious Folk-Rites /Folk Rituals; Himalayan Theatres, Dramas based on Religious Folk-Rites /Folk Rituals; Mid Himalayan Theatres, Dramas based on Religious Folk-Rites /Folk Rituals; Uttarakhandi Theatres, Dramas based on Religious Folk-Rites /Folk Rituals; Kumauni Theatres, Dramas based on Religious Folk-Rites /Folk Rituals; Garhwali Theatres, Dramas based on Religious Folk-Rites /Folk Rituals to be continued….