First comes the stage
The akhada is the place of gathering for community affairs and programs. “The akhada was based in the middle of the villages,” Dr. Giridhari Ram Gaunjhu, former head of the department of tribal languages at Ranchi University, had told this reporter in 2020. Dr. Gaunjhu died due to a heart attack in April 2021.
“People would stay there till midnight. There were even separate living quarters for boys and girls. Those who couldn’t return home for various reasons would stay there,” the acclaimed litterateur had pointed out even as he rued the fact that often in modern times, akhada is being encroached upon.
Akhada has always remained the epicenter of rural cultural exchange. Every evening, villagers assemble to discuss common and personal problems, apart from organizing singing, dancing, and sports.
“The akhada plays a key role in maintaining social harmony by unifying people belonging to different faiths in their respective domains,” noted folk artiste and Padma Shree awardee Mukund Nayak
Next comes the sound and ambience
There are innumerable musical instruments used among the Jharkhand communities for The Indian Tribal Music in Jharkhand. Such as the nagara, dholak, dhamsa, dhag, tasha, mander, bansuri, murali, jora murali, mohan bansuri, tiriyo, shehnai, shankh, singa, turi, narsinga, tahila, kendra, sarangi, ektara, dotara, teentara, tambera, gopiyantra, ghungroo, ghungra, goroma and kendra, among others. These are all varied forms of flutes, percussion, bell and string instruments. Which are used for the Indian tribal music in Jharkhand.
“Musical instruments like the Mohan bansuri, Kendra, and tiryo, in particular, are on the verge of extinction. These are rarely played these days due to a lack of expertise, though some efforts have been made of late to revive their traditions. Mander still remains the sweetest musical instrument,” pointed out Dr. Gaunjhu, who had also authored Jharkhand Ke Lok Sangeet’.
Despite getting outdated and with a lack of impetus behind tradition, these instruments can be heard across the villages.
