A mela of collective memories in Doon

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A mela of collective memories in Doon

Saturday, 23 March 2019 | JASKIRAN CHOPRA

The famous Jhande Ka Mela will open this year on Monday, March 25- the fifth day of Holi- in the Doon valley. It is a unique celebration that is linked to the beginnings of the town of Dehra Dun. Held in the old part of the town, it has been a cultural event that has been drawing thousands of devotees to the “Darbar” of Ram Rai located in the old city area in the valley.

When I was in school, Holi was not such a grand celebration as was the Jhande ka Mela to which we looked forward all year. Five days after Holi, we invariably went to the occasion of the hoisting of the new flag. There was excitement in the entire town, which had far less population than it has now. Tongas used to take us near to the Ram Rai Darbar. We had to walk through the crowded bazaar and loved that walk as the shops on both sides were beautifully decorated for the mela. People shopped at the temporary as well as the permanent shops in that area. The mela went on for about a month during which we made several trips to it. The colour, music and crowds attracted us and our parents did not mind taking us to the fair after every few days.

Let me tell you that in those days, there were no satellite channels and even Doordarshan was black and white!  There was hardly any form of entertainment except for the visits to the cinema. So the melas in the valley were much awaited events and we enjoyed them to the maximum. All the ladies waited all year to do their shopping at Jhanda Mela or Jhande ka Mela. Ornaments, cosmetics, sarees and colourful chappals and sandals were available in plenty and there was a lot of scope for bargaining, one of the favourite pastimes for women then and now. The quality of these items was not too fine. However ,they were not too bad and lasted well for a year after which the mela was back again!

The most important aspect of the mela from the point of view of the ladies and young girls was that two or three shops had silver smiths who would provide them with the facility of having their ears and noses pierced. It was mostly for young girls that this was required. My father, who was much against this practice, would instruct my mother and me very strictly that my ears or nose was never to be pierced. Only then could we go to the mela. We made groups from the neighbourhood and went  to the fair. Glittering trinkets, useful utensils, toys, clothes, shoes, decoration pieces, namkeens and sweets were very popular among the buyers. At times, we brought home things which we never used later. However, that was part of the excitement and enjoyment.

Now, the Jhande ka Mela, I feel, does not evoke that kind of fervor in the city. The old Doonites still make a visit or two to the mela but I cannot say that the residents of the valley who have come in later to live here know of the importance of the mela and its location. This is not just an ordinary fair. It celebrates the very existence of the Doon valley and its beauty and history. The vibrancy of the event is its best feature. The merger of faith with celebration makes it special too. Little children just love the swings at the fair and of course, the unending shops of attractive toys. Though one has to be a bit careful that the children do not get lost like we used to see in old Hindi films-brothers separating in the crowded melas and then reuniting as adults!

The Doon valley has, over the years, seen many new fairs and fests emerge which are quite polished and glossy –completely modern. They are nice too and the residents throng them regularly, mostly at Parade Ground. However, it is the Jhande ka Mela that retains the look and feel of the times gone by and stands out in the crowd of fairs. It has a unique flavor and complexion which carries forward the traditions of Ram Rai Darbar that has great importance in the social and cultural life of the region. It is the centre that still holds and preserves the history of the valley and its beginnings. Visiting the old part of Doon makes the visit to the mela extremely memorable.  I go there to get this feeling and, also perhaps, to look for childhood memories.

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