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{{Short description|Festival in Southern districts of West Bengal}} | |||
{{for|outher uses|Bhadu (disambiguation)}} | {{for|outher uses|Bhadu (disambiguation)}} | ||
{{Culture of Bengal}} | {{Culture of Bengal}} | ||
'''Bhadu''' is the social festival of | '''Bhadu''' is the social festival of Southern [[West Bengal]], East India. The festival starts from the first day of [[Bhadro]], the fifth month in [[Hindu Calendar]] and continues till the end of the month.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060509042052/http://www.bangladeshtourism.gov.bd/festival_folkfestivals.php Folk Festivals of Bangladesh]</ref> | ||
It has its origins in the story of a princess called Bhadravati (Bhadresvari) of Panchakote who magically disappeared. Bhadravati's devotees make an image of her and sing and dance before it throughout the month. On the last day of Bhadra, they gather on the river bank and immerse the image in the water. Songs, mainly focussing on marriage, form the main attraction of the festival in which both professional groups and amateurs take part. Celebrations include fairs and cultural programmes.<ref>{{cite book |last=Mukhopadhyay |first=Anjalika |year=2012 |chapter=Bhadu Festival |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Bhadu_Festival |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]}}</ref> | It has its origins in the story of a princess called Bhadravati (Bhadresvari) of Panchakote who magically disappeared. Bhadravati's devotees make an image of her and sing and dance before it throughout the month. On the last day of Bhadra, they gather on the river bank and immerse the image in the water. Songs, mainly focussing on marriage, form the main attraction of the festival in which both professional groups and amateurs take part. Celebrations include fairs and cultural programmes.<ref>{{cite book |last=Mukhopadhyay |first=Anjalika |year=2012 |chapter=Bhadu Festival |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Bhadu_Festival |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]}}</ref> | ||
[[File:Bhadu image02.jpg|thumb|left|An idol of Goddess Bhadu]] | |||
==Location== | ==Location== | ||
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The songs of the Bhadu festival are based on those that Bhadu was believed to have sung. | The songs of the Bhadu festival are based on those that Bhadu was believed to have sung. | ||
[[File:Bhadu song.jpg|thumb|left|Bhadu songs are being sung in a village]] | |||
[[File:Bhadu image01.jpg|thumb|right|Goddess Bhadu being taken for immersion]] | |||
==Songs== | ==Songs== | ||
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{{cite news |author= Peter J Claus |author2=Sarah Diamond|author3=Margaret Ann Mills |title= South Asian Folklore: An Encyclopedia : Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=0415939194 |page=567 }}<!--|access-date=14 December 2008 --> | {{cite news |author= Peter J Claus |author2=Sarah Diamond|author3=Margaret Ann Mills |title= South Asian Folklore: An Encyclopedia : Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=0415939194 |page=567 }}<!--|access-date=14 December 2008 --> | ||
</ref> | </ref> | ||
[[File:Bhadu image03.jpg|thumb|left|Woman carries an idol of Goddess Bhadu]] | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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==External links== | ==External links== | ||
* [http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050218/asp/calcutta/story_4394845.asp Colors of India] | * [https://archive.today/20130203113001/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050218/asp/calcutta/story_4394845.asp Colors of India] | ||
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081223223328/http://purulia.gov.in/culture/fairs_festivals.html Fairs and Festivals of Purulia District] | * [https://web.archive.org/web/20081223223328/http://purulia.gov.in/culture/fairs_festivals.html Fairs and Festivals of Purulia District] | ||
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090808065855/http://utalhawa.org/uhpage/songs.html Folk Songs] | *[https://web.archive.org/web/20090808065855/http://utalhawa.org/uhpage/songs.html Folk Songs] | ||
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bhadu (Festival)}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Bhadu (Festival)}} | ||
[[Category:Festivals in West Bengal]] | [[Category:Festivals in West Bengal]] | ||
[[Category:Hindu festivals in Bangladesh]] | |||
Latest revision as of 09:30, 7 August 2025
Template:Culture of Bengal Bhadu is the social festival of Southern West Bengal, East India. The festival starts from the first day of Bhadro, the fifth month in Hindu Calendar and continues till the end of the month.[1]
It has its origins in the story of a princess called Bhadravati (Bhadresvari) of Panchakote who magically disappeared. Bhadravati's devotees make an image of her and sing and dance before it throughout the month. On the last day of Bhadra, they gather on the river bank and immerse the image in the water. Songs, mainly focussing on marriage, form the main attraction of the festival in which both professional groups and amateurs take part. Celebrations include fairs and cultural programmes.[2]
Location[edit | edit source]
Bhadu festival is mostly celebrated in Purulia, Bankura, Birbhum and Bardhaman districts of West Bengal. [citation needed]
Folklore[edit | edit source]
The Bhadu festival is centered around the legend of the princess Bhadu. According to legend, she was found as an orphan by the chief of Lada village. Bhadu is said to be the living embodiment of the goddess Lakshmi. The chief adopts her and secretly raises her as a princess. Bhadu falls in love with Anjan, the son of a doctor in a neighboring village. The king does not approve of the relationship and has Anjan imprisoned. Bhadu and two companions then travel the kingdom singing song at the gates of forts and prisons, hoping that Anjan will hear her voice. The king eventually releases Anjan, but by then Bhadu has disappeared, and is said to have faded away and merged with the sky.[3]
The songs of the Bhadu festival are based on those that Bhadu was believed to have sung.
Songs[edit | edit source]
Bhadu gaan, an inseparable part of Bhadu festival reflects the colours of rural society. It used to be very popular in Burdwan, Bankura and Midnapore. But in Birbhum the existence of this unique genre is being threatened by the rising popularity of cinema and television.[4] Bhadu songs are composed extemporaneously and sung on each night of the festival, depicting the Goddesses as young girls. They describe Bhadu and tell in loving detail how they will be entertained. Since Bhadu is unmarried, her songs are sung mostly by unmarried girls. Dancing and playing drums accompanies Bhadu.[5]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Folk Festivals of Bangladesh
- ↑ Mukhopadhyay, Anjalika (2012). "Bhadu Festival". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
- ↑ Roma Chatterjee. "Orality, Inscription and the Creation of a New Lore". Cultural Analysis, Volume 6, 2007. Archived from the original on 28 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-14.
- ↑ Pranesh Sarkar. "Bhadu gaan, a dying tradition in Birbhum". Asia Africa Intelligence Wire. Archived from the original on 12 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-14.
- ↑ Peter J Claus; Sarah Diamond; Margaret Ann Mills. "South Asian Folklore: An Encyclopedia : Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka". Taylor & Francis. p. 567. ISBN 0415939194.
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