Ashurjaan, Luk zhur, Naan Doshi, Nano Begal...The Folk Songs of Chitral

Every language is associated with unique style of folk songs, music and rhythm. Khowar as any other language has many type of folk songs, music and district rhyme. The term Hang from the Persian a hang is used in Khowar to refer to both melody and rhythm. During recent years, there is a trend towards borrowing from Urdu and Pashto composition.

Khowar songs are divided into two main categories, those with short lines and those with long lines. These are termed as Dani and Suaz. Songs consisting of long lines are called Dani and those consisting of short lines are called Sauz. The Dani style is believed to be older than Sauz.

You may be wonder why I am discussing Khowar song and music. I do think that our new generation is totally unaware of the mother tongue khowar today. Its alarming situation for the people of Chitral. Let’s join hands together for this cause.

I am sharing some famous Khowar songs with you .So here are some descriptions of few Khowar songs, which I explain in order to throw light on the traditional heritage of Khowar music.

ASHURJAAN

The Ashurjaan is one of the oldest styles of song in Khowar. It is rather like an archaic type of Azad nazam in Urdu tradition a free verse is in English tradition. It is considered to be one of classical type of Dani mode. It is some time said that most of Ashurjaan have been contributed by women. As the Ashurjaan is sung in a dialogue form, it is said that these were created by mother or daughter, lover and beloved. The Ashurjaan can be sung and its tune can be played on musical instrument in three different style of Dani. However its tune cannot be used for a dance as a whole its lines are longer than those of other Khowar songs.

Luk Zhur

Luk Zhur is also a folk song. According to musician Asfar Khan, Luk and Buluk were two sisters in Chinar Mastuj. Luk died on the day of her wedding and Buluk was wedded in her place the mother of Luk sang this song in the memory of her deceased daughter. The song is still sung on the occasion of the wedding of daughters at the time when the bride is being seen off by her relatives.

NAAN DOSHI

Another folk song of Khowar is Naan Doshi. The song has a story similar to that of Luk Zhur. Dochi and Naan Doshi were two sisters who lived in Brok Laspur. Naan Doshi died on the night of her wedding and Doshi was wedded to the bride groom in her sister’s place. The mother of Naan Doshi composed this song in her memory. This song has a traditional tune and it is sung at wedding ceremonies

NAANO BEGAL

It is a tragic song and is associated with a melancholy tune. The folk song is attributed to a mother whose only son, Begal was killed by the order of tyrannical ruler of Chitral. Begal came from Shoghor, he was excellent polo player and often defeated the ruler of polo match in Chitral. This displeased the ruler and he ordered that Begal to be killed, on the day of Begal tragic murder when she heard of her son death, his mother rode out on his horse impersonation her son and played a heroic polo match , defeating the ruler. After winning the match the old lady took off her head dress and said to the ruler, if an women can play as well as Begal and defeat you , ‘why did you have my son killed ?’ After disclosing her identity she sang a beautiful song in praise of her assassinated son. This song is known as Nano Begal.

Baba Siyar the famous poet

“A true lover feels no burden, thinks nothing of trouble, attempts what is beyond his strength and believes in no excuses of impossibility.”

 Mirza Muhammad Siyar, also known as Baba Siyar, was one of the most famous local poet, musician, and a true lover who also has written many Sufi (spiritual love for God) poetries. He wanted to keep his love true and free of all human desires, and therefore choose for himself everlasting separation. Yorman Hamin is the song composed by Venerated lover and poet of khowar (Chitral).

Siyar belong to Shogram and his beloved lived in Reshun. Yorman Hamin is the most popular folk song. Every one young and old, man and women, artist and singer even scholar and pious man knows its verses.

This song was composed by Baba Siyar a Chitrali Poet and mystic and is known as” Yorman Hamin”

I roam on the high mountains as if I trod on hot aches.

The sword of love has stricken me; I made of myself a shield of two bones

Oh Yorman Hamin !oh fairy I swear by God after seeing you there is no light, night and day are alike dark to me, no dawn comes to me.

Oh Yorman Hamin! The curls of my bulbul are like rosebuds and maiden hairs fern, come sit by me and sing like a mynah or a bulbul.

Oh Yorman Hamin! Still I look at you; you turn away and look elsewhere, my life is yours, why do look at my enemies?

Oh Yorman Hamin! Long ringlets and your well curled hair are like bedmushk you bind up your locks to stay this lad.

Oh Yorman Hamin! I sigh day and night for the bulbul; I kiss your pearly ringlets in my dreams.

Translated by Colonel John biddulph in 1876.

Begal, the “HERO” of Peasant

The valley of Chitral is full of folk stories with great moral values, teachings and lessons. This short folk story revolves around an ordinary mother whose love for his son wasn't ordinary and to uphold his son’s honor and his son who was the kind and honest player. Mother loved his son too much that she faced the King despite her grief. This story is also considered one of the most repeated and admired stories of children.

The story goes like this……Begal, a peasant by birth, but folk hero for the people of Chitral, has lived many years ago. Begal and his mother lived alone in their small house. Life was tough for both of them but they were lively, sprightly and great full to God for blessing with a healthy life and most importantly with their gracious horse and the great game of Polo! Polo is considered one of the folk festival as well as international festival.

History witnesses! Begal was the excellent player of Polo which in Chitral and other northern region is considered The Game of Kings’ back then and still now. Back in Begal’s era, it was said that no peasant was allowed playing Polo besides the Royals, but whenever Begal dared to play opposite King, he always won and the King and his team loosed.

Many a time went when King tried to win against Begal, but Begal was such an excellent player that King always loses to him. This was making King frustrated because the people in his kingdom consider Begal the finest player of Polo and known him as “The HERO of POLO”.

This was very insulting to the proud King, because Polo is considered “The King’s Game” and “The King of Games”. This got more insulting for King when his wife and Queen of kingdom have also started to praise Begal.

King decided to have this matter settled once and for all by beating the Begal through trickery in the game. He have his loyal servants dug the wide hole in the Polo ground (where Polo game is played), so when Begal goes through it, he fell and loses either his life or his horse’s. Then King announced and challenged Begal to have Polo match so the title “The HERO of POLO” can rightfully be given to the deserved.

Begal accepted and the match begun. King was hoping that Begal would be careless in the game and fell, but Begal has clever horse and the horse sensed the hole in the ground and jumped long to cross it and King yet again loses to Begal.

People were happy that a peasant like Begal has rightfully earned the title “The HERO of POLO”, but King was not done yet, he once again challenged Begal to one last match. You see, King wanted to humiliate Begal in front of all the people so King shall be called “The HERO of POLO”, but none the things he has done, could make difference.

So finally King has done what a King can do. He have Begal murdered the night of the Polo match by his trusted servant and was hoping that when Begal won’t show in the match next day, people will think that he was afraid to lose if he face the King again.

King was waiting in his full pride that today he will reclaim the title, but he was shocked to see Begal in the ground, covering his head and mouth. Game started and once again Begal won, fair and square.

When the match has finished and King summoned Begal and asked him to remove his covering, when he did, King was shocked to see Begal’s mother in Begal’s dress.

You see, Begal’s mother loved his son too much and couldn't bear his son’s honor be ruined like this, so she masked herself and posed as Begal and won the match against King to prove that his son is the true and rightful owner of the title “The HERO of POLO”.

King was ashamed not only in front of entire kingdom, but in his eyes too.