Memory and tradition of the Bhojpuri diaspora: the socio-cultural aesthetics of Phagwa celebration

ABSTRACT

Phagwa symbolises the triumph of good over evil. The celebrating spirit of Phagwa and carnivalesque imagery draw on the mischievous and playful spirit which mocks authority, subverts power relationships, and creates a new world. This carnivalesque setting of Phagwa serves as a metaphor where people from different cultural groups join the religious procession to show solidarity. The Phagwa carnival is characterised by the spirit of possibilities, renewal, the tearing down of old forms, and the creation of new bonds & identity. The carnival of Phagwa is a performative ritual of cultural resistance and awakening, claiming space, and celebrating freedom from any kind of oppression. This paper looks at the Phagwa ritual in the diaspora that helps in understanding the importance of the memory of the past and how this festival of the Overseas Hindu community bridges the gap between different cultural groups and forefronts the message of unity in diversity.

KEYWORDS:

• Carnival
• Phagwa celebration
• Bhojpuri diaspora
• religious procession
• Indian cultural heritage

Acknowledgement

I (Dr Singh) am highly obliged to ICSSR (Indian Council of Social Science Research) for providing me with a travel grant to visit Mauritius for fieldwork (File No. DAC/47/2016-ICS).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Community who is hailing from Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Western parts of Bihar and speaks the Bhojpuri language.

2 Bhojpuri region consists of the United Province (now known as Uttar Pradesh) and West Bihar, where Bhojpuri is the regional language of these states.

3 Gur, Raab in the northern part of India especially in Uttar Pradesh State is a term for Jaggery made up of sugarcane juice.

4 Powdered colour

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Neha Singh

Dr. Neha Singh is currently working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Undergraduate Studies, Institute of Management at Nirma University, Ahmedabad, India. Email: [email protected]

Gulab Chand

Dr. Gulab Chand is currently working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultural Studies at Manipal University Jaipur, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. Email: [email protected]