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Bikaner – ‘The Dune City’ is replete with lots of
fascinating tales of valour,  love, honour and sacrifice. Powerful and
visionary royals, respectful and ever helping civilians, pomp and
pageantry, festivals of riotous colour, lust for life and of course love
for peaceful leaving altogether make this medieval city unique. Its
traditions are visible in everything: in history, in religion, in
monuments and even in its festivals.
Mingling of veriform dramatic arts and its pulsation in the
soul of Bikaner’s folk enriched the cultural inheritance of Bikaner and
helped it to emerge out as the ‘Theatre capital of North India’. Impact
of folk-drama on public awareness is in fact possible due to passion for
arts and respect for cultural values in the hearts of citizens. Hence,
a profound relation between folk drama and general awareness is but natural
indispensable for flourishing the cultural heritage of the society.
Amalgamation of entertainment in an attractive and lively form
with folk-dramatic arts is ‘Rammat’. Deep and passionate
involvement of locals with ‘Rammat’ can be seen
everywhere. Even its mention can start pulsation in every pore, with savour and splendour. Literary, ‘Rammat’
means to play with joy; delight and for pleasure. Acting, emotion,
dialogue delivery, costumes and music shape this dramatic art into a
nice form and one may not hesitate to accept it as the base of the
modern theatre art (together with other factors).
This unique folk-drama has an independent identity
with the blend of all the three components of music – vocal,
instrumental and dance – the triology of music. The melody thus
generated, further strengthens popularity of this vivacious art. ‘Rammat’,
started in the ruling era of Maharaja Sardul Singh (1851-71), is still
an impressive mode of general awareness, entertainment and public
welfare. It has a backbone of nearly 150 years and is continuously
harbouring in the souls Bikaner’s folk.
Holi of Bikaner is also
very fabulous and colourful where traditions and caprice amalgamate
nicely. The entire city, surpassing castes, creeds, age, community and
other social barriers, enjoys this colourful period extending nearly a
fortnight. Rammat Ayojan (playing) during cool
nights at open stages flows the ardency in the environment, which is
already prepared for the celebration. Rammat plays are
well organized and scheduled in a way so as to encourage the active
participation of locals in this very important cultural event of the
‘country of camels’. Perhaps, it is the only of its kind of folk-drama
in which, actors as well as spectators, both are equally active: one
team on the dais and other off the stage!
Broadly, Rammat’ plays can be
placed into two categories based on the themes – Swang
(Personification) Rammat and Kathatmak
(Narrative) Rammat. Swang Rammat is a type
of popular folk drama dealing exclusively with legendary and fabulous
subject matters whereas, Kathatmak Rammat is historical
event oriented in which, telling of sacred legendary is arranged
serially in a manner that is not only impressive but also influence the
people to change their attitude and for doing good deeds in life.
Here Begins Celebrations
Bustle starts on the day of Basant Panchami
with the worship of Dhol and Chang.
Rehearsals
for Rammat also start from this day. Main
events of Holi and Rammat series start
simultaneously. The Holi programmes are started with the
worship of Goddess Naganechiji by Saakdwipeey
community on the Phalguni Saptmi, which is followed by the
first Gewer (singing procession) of the season that
concludes in the grand Goth (dinner). From this day
onwards, its Holika period in which auspicious deeds are
prohibited until Holika Dahan.
In an another event Thambh Sthapna
is done after the pray of lord Shiva in Marunayak chowk.
Dhol and Nagada are also prepared for Tilak.
The first Rammat of the festival – Fakkad Data
Rammat is played in Barah Guwad chowk with the
theme of well being of all , benevolence, prosperity and festivity. Then
the locals take pleasure of continuous and multifarious range of
Rammat plays, which eventually comes to an end on the same venue
with Hadau – Mehri Rammat.
The historical Amar Singh Rathore Rammat
is mainly veer rus (Heroic sentiments) oriented with a splendid
blend of shrangar rus. It is an important Kathatmak
(narrative) Rammat, which is played in Acharyon
Ka Chowk. Marunayak Chowk is famous for the main
play of Hadau Mehri Rammat. The Rammat
spreads incomparable luster of shrangar rus in an interactive
way.
The swang (personification)
Rammats are played in Rattani Vyason ka Chowk, Battadon Ka
Chowk, Barah Guwar Chowk and Kikani Vyason Ka Chowk. Besides these,
Rajiya Maharaj Ki Rammat in Dammani Chowk and
Nautanki Shahzadi in Bisson Ka Chowk are
also equally vital presentations by local performers who are performing
these dramatic items from a long time. Now a day, Raja
Harishchandra Rammat, Chandra Maliagiri Rammat and
Gopichand Ka Lok-Natya etc are not played which were items
of attraction in the past. These Rammat plays were full of
compassion, virtues and various other moods of local life.
Besides Rammat, various other interesting and
meaningful events also take place during festivity. The most popular and
primeval is Harsho vyason Ka Dolchi Khel (Playing with
water), which is played as a symbol of mutual belief, love and
brotherhood between the two communities.
 Although Holika Dahan is celebrated in every nook and
corner of the city but Sale-Ki-Holi Chowk needs to be
specially mention for Holika Dahan. The late auspicious
moment (Muhoort) and massive gathering of spectators make it really a
common plate form and it seems that the people are together to burn and
destroy misdeeds and sin from their holy city.
Tanni-Khel outside Nathusar
Gate is a game of breaking Matki (Earthen pot)
full of Gulal (Micacious colorful powder). Matki
hanging on string (Tanni) is tried by different teams to
burst open and the moment it is broke / burst, it creates a picturesque
seen with colorful Gulal spreading everywhere and suspending in
the air.
Same day, Chhinki (ganesh parikrama) from Dammani
Chowk and Gewer of Harsh and
Vyas communities are also celebrated. On the Dhulandi,
enjoyment comes to it peak. People across the corners of the city rush
to the Dammani Chowk where, after rigorous singing,
dancing and playing with color, water and Gulal, the
festival of color comes to and end.
Although Bikaneri Holi is not as much famous as
Bruj Ki Holi but still it is equally important for its varied
forms and festivity. In fact, it is continued existence of the culture
and traditional values of the dune city over the centuries.
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