Our childhood Summer and Puja vacations was hardly complete without spending some time in our ancestral village near Puri. It enabled me to have chance a encounter with a very typical part of coastal Odisha Vaisnavite (devotees of Lord Vishnu) culture, brought by CHAKULIA PANDA, or the devotional bard. They are freelancers who roam from houses to houses, singing songs heaving paeans of praise for the lord in colloquial Odia, happily accepting the offers of alms from commoners. Not sure what the word CHAKULIA means. My best guess, it stands for "the moon faced priest".
The tradition of Chakulia Panda very unique to coastal Odisha. They carry a palm umbrella to protect themselves from the scorching tropical heat and rain. Usually pot bellied, he is attired in saffron cloth and carries a saffron GAMUCHHA (loin cloth) shaped in the form of a converted bag to collect alms. It's not unusual for him to have a partner. As soon one finishes a stanza, the other one takes over. They often hunt like a pair of fast bowlers, complimenting each other, instead of balls they use devotional songs. One occasions, one of them plays KENDARA (a locally made wooden violin ) to the tune of his partner's song, to add more fervor.
Upon hearing a Chakulia Panda song we would come out and gape at him. My mother, being the daughter-in-law of the house will peep through the half open door. Our grandma, acting as the interlocutor, would venture outside with a bowl of rice and vegetables. The Panda would praise her benevolence, lavishly showering her with praises. Continuing to eulogize, he will proceed further, distinguishing her offering being fresh vis-a-vis our neighbor's who supposedly gave him POKA (bug eaten) SADHA (rotten) stuff. His glib sycophancy would flatter my grandmother by no means, enticing her to bring more alms. I am sure, he would be applying same tactics at other's doors.
In summer a few mangoes and a small portion of ripe jackfruit would be an added bonus to our devotional Bard. On top of he DAANA (gift), a few coins as DAKHINA ( tips ) is a must for a Brahmin. Occasionally, in exchange of some GUA GHIA (pure clarified butter from cow's milk) in a SISI(a cylindrical pouch made from dirty glass) the Panda will render an additional number. Then he would bless the home owner and his family, proceeding to the next house, excited by the prospect of dousing his Rice and DALMA (a mix of boiled lentils and vegetables) menu with liberal dosage of ghee at end of the day.
Don't know how many such Chakulia Pandas are left today. Won't be surprised if these pall bearers of this ancient cultural heritage and tradition are as endangered as Royal Bengal Tigers, on verge of extinction. Seeing this morning the picture of a Chakulia Panda posted by my senior Dipti Bhai from REC days did ring a bell and bringing a blast from the past.
The tradition of Chakulia Panda very unique to coastal Odisha. They carry a palm umbrella to protect themselves from the scorching tropical heat and rain. Usually pot bellied, he is attired in saffron cloth and carries a saffron GAMUCHHA (loin cloth) shaped in the form of a converted bag to collect alms. It's not unusual for him to have a partner. As soon one finishes a stanza, the other one takes over. They often hunt like a pair of fast bowlers, complimenting each other, instead of balls they use devotional songs. One occasions, one of them plays KENDARA (a locally made wooden violin ) to the tune of his partner's song, to add more fervor.
Upon hearing a Chakulia Panda song we would come out and gape at him. My mother, being the daughter-in-law of the house will peep through the half open door. Our grandma, acting as the interlocutor, would venture outside with a bowl of rice and vegetables. The Panda would praise her benevolence, lavishly showering her with praises. Continuing to eulogize, he will proceed further, distinguishing her offering being fresh vis-a-vis our neighbor's who supposedly gave him POKA (bug eaten) SADHA (rotten) stuff. His glib sycophancy would flatter my grandmother by no means, enticing her to bring more alms. I am sure, he would be applying same tactics at other's doors.
In summer a few mangoes and a small portion of ripe jackfruit would be an added bonus to our devotional Bard. On top of he DAANA (gift), a few coins as DAKHINA ( tips ) is a must for a Brahmin. Occasionally, in exchange of some GUA GHIA (pure clarified butter from cow's milk) in a SISI(a cylindrical pouch made from dirty glass) the Panda will render an additional number. Then he would bless the home owner and his family, proceeding to the next house, excited by the prospect of dousing his Rice and DALMA (a mix of boiled lentils and vegetables) menu with liberal dosage of ghee at end of the day.
Don't know how many such Chakulia Pandas are left today. Won't be surprised if these pall bearers of this ancient cultural heritage and tradition are as endangered as Royal Bengal Tigers, on verge of extinction. Seeing this morning the picture of a Chakulia Panda posted by my senior Dipti Bhai from REC days did ring a bell and bringing a blast from the past.
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