Although the fair was once known for the display of culture and heritage of erstwhile Chamba state and its royals, it has now been reduced to a trade event, say local residents.
Vijay Kumar Sharma, a local artist, said, “There is hardly any culture and heritage left in the fair. It has become more of a commercial event with the administration leasing out land in the historic Chowgan ground to traders from neighbouring states, who come here for business. There are no shops in the fair that promote world-famous arts and crafts of Chamba.”
He said earlier, the fair used to be celebrated for three days only, but it had now been extended to one week for commercial reasons.
However, the only heritage that is still preserved is traditional singers, who mesmerise the audience with traditional Kunjari Malhar in the evenings.
Pankaj Chowfla, a local entrepreneur, said before the Partition, Abdals, a community of Muslim singers, who had migrated to Chamba from Avadh principality used to sing Kunjari Malhar during the fair. Later, they moved to Pakistan and were now settled in Rawalpindi province. However, those who used to play music for Abdals and were their disciples now perform Kunjari Malhar.
Chowfla, who has preserved some rare books pertaining to the heritage of erstwhile Chamba state, says as per a book titled,”History and Culture of Himalayan States”, written by Prof Sukhdev Singh Charak of Jammu University, the festivities started in 1641. The book states that Chamba principality was reduced to ‘Zagirdari’ before 1641.
However, the title of Raja was restored on the then ruler of Chamba state, Prithvi Singh, when he defeated Jagat Singh, the ruler of Nurpur state, and re-conquered the Taragarh fort (now in Kangra district) on December 13, 1641.
When Raja Prithvi Singh returned to Chamba after the victory, residents here greeted him Minjar (the thread growth on maize crop) wrapped in a red thread. The festival was being celebrated in Chamba town since then, the book adds.
(The Tribune)
No comments:
Post a Comment