Ritual songs and folksongs of the Hindus of Surinam

55 Kajarī and Sāvan Kā Jhūlā [Ansoe, 1967]
The occasion for a woman's visit to her parental home¹

jamunā bica parale hįḍolavā, kaho sāsū jhūlana jābe hįḍolavā
jau re bäuhara tore jhulanavā ke sadhavā, näihare se biranā bulāva -

hįḍolavā näihare se biranā bulāva

näihara näihara jī na karo sāsū näihara basäilai baṛī dūr -

hįḍolavā näihara basäile baṛī dūr

more pichavaravā suganā bhaiyā mitavā näihara khabari janāvo -

hįḍolavā näihara khabari janāvo

sugavā ke debo maį̄ dūdha bhāta khoravā jau bhaiyā āvahį āja -

hįḍolavā jau bhaiyā āvahį āja

jhūlane baiṭhele sāsū baṛhäitina hįḍolavā, suno sāsū binatī hamār -

hįḍolavā suno sāsū binatī hamār

ekai cunariyā hamaį detyau sāsū näihara nevatā hama jābe -

hįḍolavā näihara nevatā hama jābe

1 During the rainy season a woman longs to visit her parental home (see p. 23) and to swing under a tree. In this song she is under an inconsiderate mother-in-law who taunts her to call her brother if she wants to enjoy the swing. She is not even given a new oṛhanī, without which a woman does not venture to go out, to cover her head so that she may go to her brother's home. But she befriends a parrot with the offers of delicious titbits, and this bird carries her message to her brother. Her brother arrives and gives his turban to serve as on oṛhanī, much to the chagrin of the mother-in-law.
Line V.: dūdha bhāta khoravā to parrot - Fraser (J.A.S.B. 1883: 7-8); to a crow - D. Siṁha ('58: 92); K. Upādhyāya, ('60: 354).
Line VII: Cp. K. Upādhyāya, ('60: 265).

[p. 110]

VIII.

jai bäuhara tore jāne ke sudhavā näihare se mą̄gi paṭhāvo-

 

hįḍolavā näihare se mą̄gi paṭhāvo

IX.

bhaiyā khole sira se pagaṛiyā sāsū rahäile khisiyā̈i -

 

hįḍolavā sāsū rahäile khisiyā̈i

By the¹ river Yamunā a swing² has been fixed; say, mother-in-law, (if I have your permission) I would go to swing on the swing.
- Daughter-in-law, if you have a wish to swing, call (your) brother from (your) parental home.

The swing, from the parental home...³

- (Please, honoured one), do not keep repeating naihar, naihar; (my) naihar is settled very far.

The swing, (my) naihar...

(The daughter-in-law says:) Oh parrot living behind (the home), brother, friend, make the news known in (my) naihar.

The swing, the news...

I shall give milk, rice and khoyā⁴ if (my) brother arrives today.

The swing, if brother...

The honoured mother-in-law sat to swing in the swing; (the daughter-in-law says:) mother-in-law, listen to my request.

The swing, listen to...

Would that you would give just one headscarf (to travel with); I would (like to) go (accepting an) invitation (to visit) the naihar.

The swing, (to visit) the naihar...

- If, daughter-in-law, you have a wish to go, ask to have (the headscarf) sent from the naihar.

The swing, from the naihar...

1 Literally, ‘in the middle of the river’, but that is only a lakṣaṇā, a figure of speech.

2 Hįḍolā, a cradle-like swing with comfortable pillows etc.

3 Unlike most songs, the refrain here is variable, adding ‘the swing’, and taking the last part of the line. It is not possible to translate these lines literally without violence to the language.

4 Dehydrated milk.

[p. 111]

IX.

The brother (has arrived and) is opening the turban from (his) head (to give to his sister as her headscarf); the mother-in-law had to contain her frustration.

 

The swing, the mother-in-law...