"DALKHAI" THE IDENTITY OF WESTERN ODISHA

 “Dalkhai”

The Identity of Western Odisha

INTRODUCTION

For around 2,000 years, Odisha had been a conventional ground for Natyashastra and Bharata Muni. Extending to both the Eastern just as the Western Odisha, there are assortments of move shapes that mirror its social personality. One such little however one-of-a-kind land in Western Odisha is Sambalpur which teems with lavish green timberlands, bright untamed life, charming cascades, rich innate culture, society melodies and moves, and an assortment of landmarks. The locale is additionally notable for its people move Dalkhai. The most well-known type of conventional society moves of the Adivasis of Western Odisha, it is performed during the normal celebrations of BhaiJiuntia, Phagu Pune, Nuakhai, and so on. The word 'Dalkhai' in each stanza is routed to 'sweetheart'. Its tunes are a portrayal of the romantic tale of Radha and Krishna just as the scenes from Ramayana and Mahabharata. It has different structures, for example, Mailajada, Rasarkeli, Gunjikuta, Jamudali, Banki, Jhulki, Sainladi, and so forth. Thinking about its style, subject, and execution, it is a common type of move.

ORIGIN

Banadurga or Dalkhai Devi

The word 'Dalkhai' signifies an origin from the part of a tree. As indicated by a few, the Dalo branches are emblematically planted as Goddess Durga related to Shakti, the female force. Likewise, the branches represent brushwood, which brings out the image of youthful timid young ladies moving in the brambles. Some scientists additionally referenced that, the Sambalpuri word "Dal" signifies the part of the tree, and "Khai" signifies one who subsists on it. Many individuals opinion that it is performed during Dussehra to keep the paddy from bugs. Be that as it may, some nearby portrayals relate the move to accounts of the seven siblings and seven sisters worshiped in the Dalkhai or SulaKhuti. This legend, however a mindboggling setup of the custom grouping, is a general portrayal of the Dalkhai move. Notwithstanding, some states that the Dalkhai move is performed to commend harvest time and is related to a service 'BhaiJiuntia' seen by ladies wishing long life for their siblings.

STORY BEHIND IT'S ORIGIN

There are numerous old stories with respect to the inception of Dalkhai. The researchers have also given their perspective that people's craftsmanship and culture don't have a particular time of birthplace. , there is no particular date for the source of Dalkhai. Numerous elderly folks’ individuals talk about numerous old stories with respect to the starting point of Dalkhai. Among the narratives, the most celebrated story of Ainlabati was an exceptionally popular one. As per Scanddha Purana, sometime in the distant past, there was a huge sovereign in Dasshink Koshal named Thala Raja controlling his territory. His wife’s name was Bimala. The ruler has got two children a child named Dalaraja, and a Daughter named Ainlabati. One day princess Ainlabati went to the stream with her grandma toward the beginning of the day, while cleaning up she saw a leaf-cup (Dana) gliding over the water. She got inquisitive to think about it.

At the point when it came closer to them, they saw the leaf cup was loaded up with adoring articles like blossoms, sundried rice (Arua chaula), puffed rice (Lia), a lot of evergreen grass (Duba) cup and got some information about that. At the point when her grandma saw every one of those things, she became stunned and glad too. She said that it's their good fortune of accepting these sorts of sacred things. She disclosed to Uinlabati that in paradise yesterday unmarried young ladies were doing custom and fasting for the prosperity of their siblings and these are the things which they had utilized in revering and after

the custom they cruised every one of these things out. Her grandma helped her with that as she knew the best possible technique for this specific ceremony. From that day the custom BhaiJiuntia is predominant in the whole western piece of Odisha.

Rituals of Dalkhai.

Dalkhai is seen at the hour of Durgasatami in the long stretch of Dasra or Aswini masa Sukalapakhiya and this is known as Dalkhai Usha or Bhaijiutiya. Sisters worship Goddess Durga for the long existence of the siblings. It is a timeframe between the Pua Jutia to Bhai Jutia. All the places in the village were painted recently. The Sulha kuthi or 16 boxes which is been made on the divider for worship, beforehand are expelled with painting, and a new Shula Kuthi was prepared, which is known as  "Kuthi Sal" or"Kuthi Shitla" or "Kuthi Bhanga". In this 16 box, 16 distinctive gods and goddesses are there. In this Goddess, Durga occupied the primary spot.

To do the Dalkhai Kuthi customs one man or ladies were selected who know to play Dhunkel melody and music.

God and Godess in Sulha khuti or Dalkhai Khuti.

1.    Saraswathi

2.    Ganesh

3.    Durga

4.    Eswara

5.    Parvati

6.    Baraha

7.    Laxmi

8.    Tortoise

9.             Ravana

10.                   Hanuman

11.                   Kartika

12.                   Ayela

13.                   Fish

14.                   Kubera

15.                   Rayela

16.                   Forest Devi

On 7^th Day

From 7 days or Saptami Dina of Kuthi shitla, Khalasi Satapana is finished. The individuals who are fasting among from them one individual on Aswina sukhla Saptami day at night time brings (Dhupa, Dipa, sundried rice( Arua Chaula), puffed rice (Liya or Khaie), Pani kakharu, blossoms, and so forth) to the Shula Kuthi and another individual who doing fasting and townspeople accumulate at the spot. The "Dhunkaliya or Dhunkaleyan" worships and venerates all the divine beings and goddesses. While adoring one melody is sung which is known as Dhunkel Song.

During the hour of night ceremonies, the Goddess spirit can come to anyone, around then the Dhol, Nissan, Tassa, and Madhuri players play a "Paar" which is known as "Bharniya Paar".

On the 8^th day.

On eighth day or Astami is the day of fasting, barta, or Dalkhai celebration day. On this day the young ladies doing fasting from morning to midnight, and numerous workers are there. There is an intriguing actuality that all through, all the procedures the artists remain with the young ladies who were doing fasting and take an interest in time-to-time entertainment purposes.

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In the early morning, all the young ladies met up at the streamside or at the ocean and wash up. After that one young lady brings 7 Anjula sand to set up Bedi. After that inside and out the four sides of the Bedi with 4 mango leaves,4 Diya was helped. What's more, after that increasingly 7 young ladies, bring each brings 7 Anjula sand and put them in 7 Changree under a tree. One young lady brings one Kalashi water and keeps it behind the Bedi.

After that, every single together young lady petition God for the long existence of their sibling close to the Goddess Durga. After that Dance began. Little young girls took all the “Bogh” to their homes. Little youngsters move to the outside of the town in the evening and proceeded with their diversion consistently. Presently today's date young ladies do Dalkhai outside of the town.

At 3 pm early afternoon, all the sand changree and other puja samagree(worshiping articles) were taken close to the Sulha kuthi. One Parvati and one Eswara getup person came holding an umbrella, bamboo stick, or Kalashi, travel through 7 houses and return back to Sulha kuthi, and again there one more character was played. One Bheem and one Kubera. Bheema asks for rice from Kubera and brings it to the field and planted it. Around then the rancher sings the tune. After that, the little youngsters depict all the development procedures. After that, everyone at night went to their home for the readiness of the worship.

Subsequent to heading off to home young ladies make the groundwork for the Puja(worship), for every sibling one pic of sugarcane, one brata(yellow or red shading string), 108 Duba(Evergreen grass) and108 unbreakable Arua rice put at a spot. Among this liya, grain, rice, dipa, insecent stick, and adore things are kept together in changree (bamboo bin). After that, all the young ladies went to clean up at night. After that rest customs did at Sand Bedi and at Sulha kuthi.

On 9^th Day

In the first part of the day of Navami, all the young ladies who doing fasting drew close to the Dalkai kuthi, and holding all the puja samagrees they move 7 rounds of the town and headed towards the stream and there they do the visarjan (dumping in water) and scrub down there and come back to the home.

Dhunkel instrument 

One clay pot, one Kula, one Dhunkel stick, or ghungroo tied stick combined together to form a Dhunkel instrument.

PERFORMANCE

Devi Durga and Mahisasur act

Dalkhai is generally performed by unmarried young ladies. For the most part, rehearsed and performed by youthful young people of Binjhal, Kuda, Mirdha, Sama, and some different clans of Sambalpur, Balangir, Sundargarh, Bargarh, Nuapada, and Kalahandi locale. The drummer additionally called the Dhulia, thumps the Dhol toward the start of the exhibition. Little youngsters, remaining in a line sing Dalkhai melodies. In the wake of singing for some time, they begin moving by twisting forward in a half-sitting position. Hands are pushed ahead and in reverse then again by the young ladies and during the move, they place a fabric of red or pink shading on their shoulders. Essential significance is given to various developments of hands, legs, knees, and hips. The move some of the time goes moderate and quick relying on the sound of the dhol. Additionally, as the move continues, the artists make hovers in clockwise and hostile to the clockwise course.

Dalkhai performance on the stage

Presently day for stage performance numerous things has been changed in the music, movement, and so on. First Dalkhai performed at the country level in 1968. Performed by incredible Dancers late Smt Gurubari Mirdha in Infront of the previous First woman Prime Minister Smt. Indra Gandhi.

Late Smt. Gurubari Mirdha performing with her students.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT

The move is performed by females while music is given by men who are drummers and artists. There is a rich ensemble of people's music joined by the move alongside various instruments. These incorporate the Dhol, Nisan (a monster drum put forth of iron defense), Timkidi (a little uneven drum played by two sticks, or Tasa (likewise an uneven drum), Mahuri, and Jhanj Be that as it may, the beat is constrained by the dhol player as he moves before the young ladies. This gathering of instruments is knowns as Panchabadiya.

Dalkhai Par

As the Dalkhai song is a folk song so it doesn’t have specified lyrics. But it has a specified musical note or it's called Paar. It is been divided into 4 parts.

Uthen

Theka

Challi

Chidden

Uthen

Tak tak tak tak

Jahagini tak tak jahagini

Tak tak

Theka

Gidijha ginja jha ginjha gidijha ghini  jho

Tikita khiti ta khita tikita khiti ta

Challi

Gidigi gini jho ginijha gini jho

Gidi jha jha gidi ta ta

Chidden

Ghijhan takiti takiti ghija

Ghijhan takiti takiti ghija jho.

COSTUME

Women and girls wear a colorful printed Sambalpuri saree. They also tie a scarf on their shoulders holding the ends in both hands. Various traditional jewelry such as Katriya, Bandriya, Bahuti, Khagala, Panpatri, Gungroo, birds feather, etc. completes the look of the performers. 

Makeup for girls

Men wear Sambalpuri Saree as Dhoti, Gangi, scrap, and silver bangles on both hands and legs and bird feathers. 

Improvised costume

Traditional Costume

Conclusion

Dalkhai is been done in Sambalpur of western Odisha yet now daily greatest individuals unmarried girls of various ranks and races of Odisha doing this for the long existence of the siblings. It is advanced from ancestral celebration to societal celebration. The Dalkhai dance additionally ventured out from the village to the global stage.

Numerous things have been overhauled, similar to customs, move developments, and ensemble. Changes consistently give a positive outcome that isn't valid in any way. Because of the progressions crude artistic expression getting corrupted nowadays. The real Dalkhai craftsman was not getting the limelight due to some adulterated craftsman.

Today Dalkhai is the identity of Western Odisha, yet sooner the crude artistic expression won't be safeguarded at that point, then one day will come to the up and coming age will see Dalkhai on the stage just as high voltage move from nothing else.


REFERENCES,
Dalkhai "the voyage of Dance"
Article of lecturer Hurdamani Pradhan
Folklore of Western Odisha
Sambalpur bhasa sahitya sanskruti

Special Thanks  for the Guidance  

Lecturer Smt. Supritee Mishra

School of Performing Arts,
Sambalpur University.

Chetanamayee Behera & Sunil Mahanad eminent young folk singer
Reema Bag & Bijaya Mahanad young folk dancer  

Researched and written by,

akashkumarmuni.21@gmail.com

Akash Kumar Muni,
Dancer and Choreographer

Masters in Performing Arts

Sector-17 D/23

At\PO – Sector-18,Rourkela-769003,

Dist. Sundargarh, Orissa, India.

Cell # 8637269356