Pratishtha Pandya

Series Curator

Labani Jangi

Illustration

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In the geography of the rann, where high temperatures rage most of the year, monsoon rains can be quite an event. It is the respite from the scorching heat that people wait for, quite eagerly. Not surprisingly the rains here become a metaphor for the relief that love brings in the everyday life of the woman. But the romance and splendour of monsoon rain is not unique to Kutchi folk music. Images of dancing peacocks, dark clouds, rains and a young woman yearning for her lover are the most cliched ones that can be found – not just across the spectrum of classical, popular and folk musical traditions in India, but also in many styles of paintings and literature.And yet, when we hear it all strung together in this song, sung in Gujarati, presented here in the voice of Ghelji Bhai of Anjar these same images succeed in bringing to us the fresh charm of the first rains of the season.

Type of song: Traditional folk songCluster: Songs of love and longingSong: 7 Title of the song: Kali kali vaadalima vijali zabooke    Composer: Deval Mehta Singer: Ghelji Bhai, Anjar  Instruments used: drum, harmonium, banjo, tambourine Recording year: 2012, KMVS studio English translation: Pratishtha Pandya

These songs, 341 recorded by a community-run radio Soorvani, have come to PARI through the Kutch Mahila Vikas Sangathan (KMVS). A special thanks to Preeti Soni, Aruna Dholakia, secretary, KMVS, Amad Sameja, project coordinator KMVS for their support and to Bhartiben Gor for her invaluable help.

A season of love in the desert

ریگستان میں پیار کا موسم

ఎడారిలో ప్రేమ ఋతువు

பாலைவனத்தில் காதலின் காலம்

ਮਾਰਥੂਲ ਵਿੱਚ ਪਿਆਰ ਦਾ ਮੌਸਮ

മരൂഭൂമിയിലെ പ്രണയഋതു

ಮರಳುಗಾಡಿನಲ್ಲೊಂದು ಪ್ರೇಮದ ಋತು

रेगिस्तान में प्यार का मौसम

रेत के मुलुक में प्रेम के फुहार

মরুপ্রান্তরে পিরিতির মরসুম

মৰুভূমিত এতিয়া ভালপোৱাৰ বতৰ

રણમાં પ્રેમની મોસમ

Kachchh

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A season of love in the desert

A Kutchi folk song about love, rains, and longing

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