Biraha

Biraha (sometimes known as Birha) is an ethnic folk genre in Ahir Communities in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, India. This genre is mood based and the basic theme revolves around the separation of lover and his beloved. "Biraha" in Hindi means separation. Its place in folk songs is as important as that of Dwipadi in Sanskrit, Gatha in Prakrit and Barwai in Hindi. It is composed of two episodes. When one side says their point, the other side answers in the same verse. There is no limit to the number of quantities. The volume varies with the tune of the song. It indicates the intense longing of the spouse and the pain of love or feeling of separation from him. Separation is a king, a body that does not know separation, it is a living corpse. Outside India, this mode is gaining popularity by increasing its penetration in Mauritius, Madagascar and the surrounding Bhojpuri-speaking region.

Origin

The sources of the origin of this folk music are found in the early nineteenth century. During the British rule, the trend of migrating from rural areas to the metros had increased. Such workers had to stay away from their families for long periods of time for their livelihood. The lament of separation from both the motherland and spouse led to the birth of Biraha. The genre is extremely popular among the farmers and laborers in eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. After hard labor throughout the day, these people used to sing songs of the same folklore in high voices in small groups at night. About 55 years ago, in the commercial areas of Thatheri Bazar, Chaukhambha, Varanasi, workers were seen singing biraha. There is no meaningful evidence for the naming of Biraha. If we understand the meaning of Biraha based on Hindi dictionary, it will be as follows - The word Biraha in Bhojpuri is a spoiled (apabhramsa) form of the word Virah in Hindi, which means - grief. Biraha may have been named Biraha by Aadi Kavi Bihari Yadav or Bihari's disciples because Biraha consists of a story that is based on a Karuna Rasa incident (Kand). But not all birha have compassion (Karuna). The essence of a Biraha is sometimes heroic (Veer Rasa) and of humor (Hasya Rasa). The inclusion of many essence in Biraha proves the name Biraha to be misleading and flawed.[1]

Initially Biraha was popular only as a labor-free folk genre. Today there are two types of birha singing. The first type is called Khadi Birha. In this type of singing, there is no consistency of instruments, but the rhythm of the singer is absolutely fixed. First the lead singer starts the song head in the vocals of Tara Saptak and then the choir joins it. The second form of Biraha singing is staged.

Notable Biraha singers

References
  1. "बिरहा की उत्पत्ति और विकास". Kashikatha. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  2. ""वो 'झरेला' भोजपुरी गायक, जिसका गाना बॉलीवुड चुराता है"". Jansatta.
  3. "70 वां गणतंत्र दिवसः लोक गायकी के सरताज हीरालाल को जीवन की सांझ में मिला पद्न पुरस्कार". Patrika.
  4. "Hiralal Yadav, Padma Shri awardee Bhojpuri folk singer passes away at 93". India TV.
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