‘Ropni' tradition fast disappearing from H'bag, Chatra villages
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Hazaribag/Chatra: The tradition of singing paddy "Ropni" (sowing) songs, considered to be the soul of a village, is getting lost with time. In the past, groups of women would sing traditional Ropni songs while planting or sowing paddy in the fields.
Although one can still hear such songs in a few places, the bitter truth is that this tradition is on the verge of becoming history.
Banshi Ganjhu, a sexagenarian of Jamuari village in Kusumbha panchayat of Katkamdag block, said the season of paddy planting in the village was not only a symbol of agricultural work, but it is also a cultural celebration. Before starting the planting, we perform special puja in the fields, which is called 'Panchaathi' or 'Bangadi'.
On this occasion, the villagers gathered in the field and offered 'Thekua' and other dishes to please the village deity and Indradev (the rain god), so that the village gets good rain and harvests.
Ganjhu, a leader of his community here, further said in his village, few are following the tradition of singing the traditional songs... "... Latar patar kado mei dhan ropa ropi re, chala re chala re khet hariyar...". There are many songs in local dialects which are melodious and make even the listener sing along, he said.
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Ramni Devi, a villager and an employee of Green Valley Public School in Jamuari, said on the day of paddy sowing, the owner of the field have to prepare food of the choice of those who will sow the paddy. Moreover, the owner has to pay Rs 300 per person taking part in the sowing, she added.
Talo Manjhi of Tatijharia in Hazaribag said singing songs in local dialects from paddy sowing to marriage functions and other holy events is a tradition of every village.
"But it's fast disappearing as you can hear such songs only at one or two places," he added. These songs are full of laughter, jokes, pain of separation and fun. It binds people together and gives the message of unity, he said, admitting that the current generation prefers not to carry on the old tradition now.
Recalling that farmers used to plough the fields early in the morning with oxen, many said the rumbling of machines can be heard now.
Tractors, power tillers and other machines have replaced traditional agricultural equipment. This mechanical change may be making farming easier, but it is weakening the social and cultural bonding that was the soul of these ancient traditions, added a farmer.
In Lawalong of Chatra, farmers also echoed similar sentiments. There was a time when women used to sow paddy in rows and sing songs with lyrics like 'Agahan ke mahina bad sukh ke dinava ho...'
They said those voices have disappeared from the fields. Neither does the new generation understand these songs, nor do they have the interest to learn them, many rued.
This is the reason why the elders of the villages in the two districts are now worried. A 70-year-old farmer, Dukhan Bhuiyan, of Lawalong said that during his time, they used to feel happy and considered a festival was on when seeing the planting and sowing of crops. The entire field used to be tilled during cultivation. Now, machines are doing everything. In such a situation, this tradition must be preserved. There should be an initiative to preserve the cultural activities and songs related to paddy planting at the school and panchayat levels in rural areas, so that the future generations can know that, along with hard work in the fields, seeds of happiness and faith were also sown, he added.
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