Folk Music of Mithila

Music connects people to people but Folk Music connects people to God. Folk Music represents a particular community at the world’s stage in vivid manner. Folk music describes a particular land , the livelihood of the natives .

Introduction

Folk Music of Mithila is the most ancient types of music in the Indian subcontinent. No one knows exactly when Maithili Music came into existence , probably due to the length of its history. It may say that its age might have helped other music develop and flourish in India and Nepal. These folksongs are representative of the universal creativity of humanity. The society retains total system of knowledge through these songs. Mithila is a great cultural land where this significant tradition of the folk song is shinning from the thousands of years.

The Folk songs are associated with the various events in the life of ordinary person. A song for every occasion is ready here. These songs sung on every significant occasion from Birth to death , on festivals or the changing seasons.

History

The systematic of Maithili Folk Songs , from anthropological is relatively new. Looking a little deeper one finds some interacting differences. It is another case of the Unity – Diversity aspect of Indian Culture. In Mithila the women’s songs provide a concrete expression of tendencies that distinguishes Maithil culture from other parts of India. The regular history of Mithila Music dates back from Nanyadeva [1097 – 1133], a great patron of Music and author of a treatise on this art. He developed the popular ragas on systematic lines. Some of those ragas are : Nachari, Phag, Chaita, Purbi, Lagani.

The Maithili Music was carried to Nepal, Uttar Pradesh , Bengal and to many more areas of Indian subcontinent. Folk songs, religious songs of Vaishnavas were very popular in Medieval period. There were certain rural centers where fine forms of Music have been developed. Darbhanga, Panchgachhiya in Saharsa district, Ara and Jhabua towns have developed prolifically the Music of various forms.

There used to be a school of Music where village girls and boys were being trained in Folk Music. Some of the rich local Zamindaars families in different parts used to hold regular music conferences every year.

Classification of Maithili folk songs:

Songs representing the life – cycle events :

There are many songs that represent life – cycle events that is birth, marriage etc. Sahara songs are the songs which are being sung by the women on the sixth day of the birth of the baby to express thanks to Mother Goddess Sastika. Sahara songs are basically the description of the birth of Lord Krishna and Lord Rama. These are also sung on Upnayana [ sacred – thread ceremony ] , Mundana [ tonsure ceremony ] and marriage . The lullabies are sung to please the child and keep the child happy. The wedding songs often classified according to the name of the rituals or ritual stages. Marriage songs include Suhaag songs at the beginning day and Samdaun [ Vidai ] the concluding ceremony.

Songs representing the annual calendar of events :

There are two groups this classification falls, Agricultural Songs and Festival songs . Agricultural Songs are sung during sowing, ploughing , winnowing etc. The cycle of festivals begins with the month of Chaitra. Several songs are sung during the celebration of the festivals of Ramnavmi, Batsavitri, Nagapanchami, Madhushrabani, Kojegra, Sama – Chakeva, Bhardutiya.

Seasonal Songs:

Songs of the whole year with specific months are particularly popular.The common songs include under the category are Barahmasa, Chahomasa and Chanmasa .

Wisdom songs:

Every song represent wisdom of the people but there are some specific songs that explain how people retain their knowledge system consciously and there are some dietic and social restrictions to be followed every month.

As for example – Do not consume leafy vegetables in the month of savan and curd in Bhadab.Keep away from the dewdrops in Aswin and avoid eating buttermilk in Kartik.And thus so on .

Devotional Songs

In this category, Bhajan and Kirtan , Prati [morning songs], Gosaunik geet , Bhagwati geet, Songs of Shiva are being sung.

Songs of love and Beauty

Some songs explained the innermost feelings of a lover or beloved.The most important type of such songs is called lirahut These are sung in ritual occasion and also sung in leisure time. Thesesongs are songs of seperation as well as union.

Songs of Glory

These songs describe the glory, history , beauty of the land and the people etc. Glorious deeds of historical and mythical characters are sung.

These classifications and descriptions unfold the immense significance of Maithili Folk songs in understanding of the structure and function of the society.

New Era of Maithili Music

Maithili music is very much traditional . Maithili Music is usually played by classical instruments, but now use of modern instruments is making these folksongs more appreciable. From those times there are several contributers who has been giving their whole lives to music. Vidyapati was the patron of music and literature of Mithila.

Now there are many musicians who are doing great for the Mithilanchal Music and are seem to have more popular outside Mithila. Some recognizable names are Kunj Bihari, Pravesh Mallick, Sharda Sinha, Maithili Thakur.