Dear Editor,
Last Sunday, the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha USA Praant hosted the 3rd annual Choutaal Samelan at the Prem Bhakti Mandir in Jamaica, Queens as part of Guyanese American Phagwah celebration. The programme was chaired by Anil Bedasie and Deepa Seetaram who are part of the USA Praant’s management team.
The large congregation listened rapturously to some 16 groups from various Guyanese mandirs and cultural organizations in the New York area with each singing several chowtaals in a rigorous session at the top of their voices. Each group had a minimum of ten participants. Every member of the chowtaal group sang and beat jhals (cymbals) while some beat the drum (dholak) and the dantaal. Some groups comprised mostly young devotees such as the Sanataan Dharma Mandir of NY, the Kal Ka Roshni Youth group and the Queens Hindu Mandir Youth group with its 11 year old female dholak player.
The audience was jubilant having a fun time. The congregation became part of the singing groups echoing the lyrics or verses. Many could be seen clapping and dancing or gyrating with the music.
Chowtaal is a very rich musical genre (of fast moving tempo and singing as well as voice modulation) captivating audiences of all ethnicities and religions. The groups assembled in two rows of singers facing each other (semi-circle), with a dholak drummer at one end, singing lines of Hindi text antiphonally.
Chowtaal was brought to the Caribbean by indentured laborers from the north India regions of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. It is a folk music of village life in the Hindi and Bhojpuri belt in India. Many of the lyrics of the chowtaals involve loud repetitions of chants about life and/or on the Hindu Gods and Goddesses. It was transmitted to and institutionalized in the USA and Canada by Indo-Caribbbean immigrants. In Guyana, years ago chowtaal was sung by village or temple groups with members going from home to home.
Although this type of music genre is on the decline in India, it thrives in the Caribbean and North American continent. Indo-Guyanese and others preserve this musical art form in NYC with its choral singing and fast tempo music.
Chowtaal is sung during the Phagwah season, known as Holi, which is the Hindu festival of colour and joy. It is very popular around this time of the year when the spring festival of Holi is observed. Usually, from the time of Holika Dahan or the planting of Holika, it continues for 40 days leading up the Phagwah (Holi) Day.
Choutaal Samelan, an initiative of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha is an annual event held countrywide in all of the Praants of the Dharmic Sabha. Choutaal gols or groups from Mandirs in each region converge at various venues to share in spirited singing reflective of the festival. The objective of the USA Praant is continue this tradition by hosting the gols from the mandirs in the Tri-State area.
The USA Praant’s chairman Dave Thakoordeen, a cultural advocate, has been supporting Indian cultural activities around New York and in Guyana. He also organizes and supports sports activities in Guyana and NYC. He funds the chowtaal Mela. Thakoordeen said the idea behind the samelan is to promote the art form and to celebrate the Indian culture. The samelan also recognizes the work of the pioneers in introducing Indian cultural and musical art forms in the US. Thakordeen said he wants the youth to know their culture. Chowtaal takes a lot of verses from the scriptures. So by learning and knowing chowtaal, they learn the scripture indirectly, says Dave.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
