Punjab is known as the
land of Gurus, Pirs, Rishis and Fakirs. Also the home of melas, of
course.
I feel that every
Punjabi mela or fair exudes its own distinct air. The
individual ‘character’ or tone of a mela is a personification
of the essence of its season, condition of crops; social, economic
and political milieu.
Mela Chhapar, held in
the memory of Gugga Pir, is one of the most spectacular festivals of
the Malwa belt of Punjab. Its setting is the threshold between
autumn and winter. By bidding adieu to summer and welcoming winter,
we endow it with a unique seasonal flavor and savor. It comes as a
well-earned break after the hard spell of farming during hot and
humid days of the month of Bhaddon, mid-August to mid-September. A
pleasant nip in the air starts combing the mature Saoni or winter
crops. It tingles the fun-loving nature of the Punjabi populace.
All this reminds me of
the spirit of autumn one can feel or touch by reading John Keats’
famous poem Ode To Autumn. It opens with these charming lines
Season of mists and
mellow fruitfulness
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun
From among various mela-spirited
personas minor, I could coax and revive a few vignettes preserved in
my childhood memory. They are of a social worker, a shopkeeper and
an uncle. To view them again across over six decades is in itself a
nostalgically enjoyable experience.
Here are brief samples
of those seemingly insignificant but certainly contributing role
players in the creation of the mela spirit.
A volunteer dispenser
of water:
He is about 45, robust,
religious-minded and of a cheerful mien. Married and father of two
daughters, Mr. Singh likes doing social service. The advent of Chhapar mela galvanizes him to get ready with his bokka and
lajj i.e. about 2 gallon capacity leather bucket tied to a
rope of approximately 30 feet length.
Every mela day spurs
him to station himself at a well, situated by the path leading to
the fair ground of village Chhapar. He draws fresh, cold water with
his lajj and bokka and politely pours it into the
cupped hands of the thirsty. An example of Bhai Ghanaiya’s
benevolent spirit! The thankful beneficiaries bless him in spoken or
unspoken words, rest for a while and resume their march onward.
A benign banyia:
A petty, poor
shopkeeper from our village would set up his tea-shop in the mela.
He would also make hot pakoras and jalebis, even jalebis of ‘gurh’
or jaggery. He behaves as a carefree Jat Baniya. Fellow villagers
visiting the mela know about the location of his shack. Those
feeling tired or unwell would relax under his tarp tent. Lost kids
or property could be deposited/found there.
A caring uncle:
Usually a middle-aged
mela fan who would volunteer to safely escort 2-3 neighborhood boys
to the fair. He likes to help his wards even at the cost of his own
enjoyment. His usual attire would include a starched turla-topped
turban, tunic like shirt and a chadrah wrapped around legs. He
conducts the boys through varied make-shift bazaars, singers’
akharaas, circus shows, political conferences etc. The youngsters
would spend their mela allowance of a rupee or so on entertainment,
toys, food and sweets. Some change still jingles in their pockets.
By the time they take
the last train from Ahmedgarh to Ludhiana, almost full moon of
chaudish lights their two kilometer walk from Kila Raipur railway
station to their homes, in the kind care of the uncle, of course.
They could not have enjoyed the mela without the uncle’s help.
(22 September
2007)
ਰੁੱਖ ਬੋਲ ਨਾ ਸਕਦੇ ਭਾਵੇਂ, ਬੰਦਿਆਂ ਦਾ ਦੁੱਖ ਪੁੱਛਦੇ