Muhuri an Instrument of Enthusiasm of Ganda Baja
Summary
In the civilized society the Ganda people are untouchable, lived outside of the village. Even the upper caste people don’t want to touch their shadow or they avoid to walk on their walking way. Most of people earn their livelihood from working in the field of upper caste rich and Zamindar, where some people from weaving and some from playing Ganda Baja. Ganda Baja is the dignity of Ganda or untouchable people of society; the art form is being created and maintain by the Ganda people itself.
Ganda Baja is the mother source of all cultural activities and art form in Western Odisha. Ganda Baja is a group of instruments of Dhol, Lisan, Tasa, Muhuri and Jhanj or Kastal. With out Ganda Baja the existence of Western Odisha’s Folk/Tribal Art Form is worthy less. The Dhol and Muhuri both lead in the Music and Dance form. Ganda Baja is the rich organized village orchestra by the unskilled traditional artist by hereditary nature. There is a discipline ritual in organized Ganda Baja group. Before going to perform Ganda Baja, instruments are worshipped by “Muhuria” or the person who paly Muhuri. Muhuria is the priestly in nature, who always wear a clean Dhoti Gamuchha and Sindur in forehead. He is the most discipline and simple among all the musician. The instruments are usually only touched by the musicians, but there is no ritual prohibition to touch the instruments. However, no one should step over them as this is considered disrespectful and is supposed to cause a curse by the goddess. The instruments are stored in a secular context by the instrument player.
The Folk/Traditional instrument muhuri an oboe-like-instrument plays a crucial role in changing the character of the music and rhythm. It is not easy to play Muhuri. The Muhuria play Muhuri by controlling over air or surprisingly both in the time of inhaling and exhaling he play the Muhuri Instrument. In this time saliva come out from their mouth from the whole of Muhuri. The scaredness of the instruments evolves mainly through the ritual context and the sound vibrations transforming the instrument to the mediator as well as to the corpus of a particular goddess. In the performances of Ganda Baja notions basically Muhuri create a spiritual connection between music and goddess. Various goddesses are assumed to appear through the sound of specific instruments and their rhythm (par). While the polyrhythmic structure of the orchestras is understood as the manifestation of their voices.
Muhuri and Boil or Scared ritual:
Boil or Scared practice of Maleshree and Bharani play the importance role in religious cultural practice in Folk/Tribal and Indigenous Art Form. In Dalkhai rituals Sulah Khadi or sixteen pattern of Rhythm variation is play to worship sixteen types of Goddesses. The sound of the muhuri is identified with the expression of the specific goddess which enters in to the body of Barua and performance in accordance with the Ganda Baja Rhythm beat. In this context all Ganda Baja instruments play together in tune and rhythm to create a vibration of scared feelings.
Muhuri and Marriage ritual:
In Biha or marriage and Danda ritual, we can see the rich Folk/Tribal and Indigenous culture of western Odisha. Marriage ceremony has a number of rituals and practice like of Mangalika, Matipaka, Belbaran, Ganasana, Maduasaal, Dulanacha, Gaalseka, Barati, Bidayi and Madojhara etc. Each ritual practice is giving a feeling of uncomplete without the presence of Muhuri. Before starting the marriage rituals Muhuria start to play mangalik tune then all Ganda Baja start to play with the guideline of Muhuri. It is believed that at the time of mangalika the Muhuria throw out all the bad spirit through scared Muhuri and make that place as a holy place. At the time of Maduadaal baran the muhuria play the scered tone and appeals to the Gramdevi, God and Goddess to come with the Ganda Baja to participate. After that Ganasana, various marriage rituals start, where Muhuria play the tone to please the divine spirit and pour blessing on him. The emotional moment in marriage is Bidayee, where the tone of Muhuri create a feeling of emotion in the mind and soul of all person. They feel the pain of separation by listening the Muhuri. Tear come out from eye spontaneously, people found that maximum time bride and her relatives got fainted with heartbreaking emotions.
Muhuri and Folk/Tribal and Indigenous Music and Dance:
We can see the importance of Muhuri in Western Odisha’s Folk/Tribal Art Forms Song, Dance and cultural activity. The Ganda Baja play the importance role in western Odisha Folk/Tribal and Indigenous Music, Dance, Rhythm and Art form. In Ganda Baja Muhuri many a time control over the Music in compare to Dhol.