Women's songs, women's lives. A view from Kangra

Abstract

This article describes the role of song in uniting singers, in performance of rituals, and in explaining married life and emotions among the population in Kangra, India. This region is known for wide views, terraced fields, scattered villages, and Goddess temples. Out-migration for men seeking employment has had a long tradition spanning hundreds of years. Women's songs are associated with rituals, such as birth, marriage, bridal farewells, and married life ("Pakharu"). The Pakharu is sung after other ritual songs. Songs in the life of women are both deeply personal and public property. Women in Kangra largely are in the service of their husbands. One such devotional song that honors the husband as a living God and instructed the wife to serve him was recorded by the author and is presented in its entirely in Punjabi and English. The song uses heroines from Hindu mythology. The songs in Kangra are a cultural mix. At another household members urged the author to report that women were experts in all kinds of work. A respected seamstress and songster in the community, who had availed herself of her land inheritance rights, sang a song about men not always appreciating or acknowledging her service. The women discussed various interpretations of the song, which is presented in English. The author taped variants on this song, which held a common theme of suicide and spouse abuse. The women were very interested in the different versions. The women spoke of painful moments in their lives and the lack of options, except possibly through a direct relationship with Bhagavan. Folk songs appeared to be a symbolic resource for some women, but not all women knew songs or were interested in songs. Women who tended to live away from family tended to know few songs. The women revealed that more songs were known by women who had experienced a lot of pain. Even happy songs had a sad depiction of women's fate. Show more