Skip to main content

Featured Post

Pandharpur Yatra 2023

The first time I visited Pandharpur was back in 2007 . The names Vitthal and Pandharpur, were just names to me. I had heard of them, but that was about it. Seeing the lord standing on the brick, hands on his hips, was memorable, but more memorable was the sight that greeted us as we walked out of the main sanctum of the temple. In the mandap just outside were a group of devotees singing abhangs , and dancing. This was the first time I had heard abhangs , and even almost 15 years later, I can remember the welling of feeling within me, listening to the songs, and how fascinated I was by the sight of the devotees dancing, lost in their love of the Lord. Over the years, as I have read more about Vitthal, and participated in Ashadi Ekadashi programmes at Puttaparthi, that first experience has stayed clear in my mind and heart. Every time I tell my Balvikas students of the saints who sang of Vitthala, it is that experience that I re-live. I visited Pandharpur again, in 2010, but that experie
2 comments

Vasudev

The name Vasudev reminds us of Vasudeva - the father of Krishna. But Krishna himself was known as Vaasudeva - the son of Vasudeva. And that is what this man is known as too...



The Vasudev are people of a nomadic tribe, seen mostly in Maharashtra. They go from temple to temple, and even along streets, enacting the stories of Krishna through song and dance. They wear on their head, a cap, made with peacock feathers, and usually wear the traditional dhotis with an uttariya. We sometimes see them on the roads of Mumbai too, and some come singing on the roads of our colony, but we saw this one at the Aundha Nagnath Temple near Nanded.
Labels:
Location: Nanded, Maharashtra, India

Comments

  1. AnonymousNovember 23, 2012 at 11:35 AM

    Never knew about this. There are so many folk or tribal arts dying today. Don't know if these artists will exist after 20 years!!! Thanks for sharing Anu!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarNovember 23, 2012 at 1:00 PM

      I wonder about that too... and really hope they manage to survive the test of time!

      Delete
    2. ANILApril 18, 2014 at 10:42 AM

      I have very little knowledge but can narrate my experiences. Firstly, I remember seeing vaasudev in Matunga in late 50s and early 60/70s. They used to sing devotional songs in a particular style while dancing, not necessarily in an elaborate way. Later, i notoced them on the border of Boriavli West and Dahisar West , their style after so many years was still the same

      Delete
  2. ArtiNovember 23, 2012 at 11:50 AM

    Ah yes, I remember having seen them in and around our area sometimes singing devotional songs. Didn't know they were known as Vaasudev or the place from where they came from. Thanks for sharing, Anu!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarNovember 23, 2012 at 1:00 PM

      I had seen them too, Arti, but didnt know much about them till I read someones blog :D glad to share !

      Delete
  3. R Niranjan DasNovember 23, 2012 at 12:13 PM

    Never knew about a tribe like that. Interesting. Thanks for sharing this info Anu.

    http://rajniranjandas.blogspot.in/2012/11/fort-chapora.html

    ReplyDelete
  4. SoulSpaceNovember 23, 2012 at 12:19 PM

    Video, Video...wish I could see their performance:(((

    Thanks so much...a traditional storyteller. i would have loved to see him perform

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarNovember 23, 2012 at 1:02 PM

      Unfortunately, he wasnt singing... maybe because we were the only ones there then... the temple was surprisingly empty.. next time i see one, will be sure to record a video, Sowmya!

      Delete
  5. AnonymousNovember 23, 2012 at 2:38 PM

    I have never seen this before!! Thanks for sharing.. they r not seen in south Karnataka and Kerala .. and I have never been to Maharashtra:-(
    Thanks anu for informing us about unknown things:-) ... Dr.A

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarNovember 23, 2012 at 5:07 PM

      I guess Karnataka and Kerala have their own versions of these guys... the concept of the wandering minstrel is a common thread across the country... but i dont know if they have some typical headgear or dress or something... Its a pleasure to share something new with you!

      Delete
  6. MridulaNovember 23, 2012 at 5:03 PM

    This is my first introduction to them, via your blog.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarNovember 23, 2012 at 5:55 PM

      Thanks Mridula! glad I have introduced you to something new :D the next time you are in Maharashtra, you will surely notice them!

      Delete
  7. K V V S MURTHYNovember 24, 2012 at 9:10 AM

    Very nice blog you are heading with...all the best!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Aarti BadamikarNovember 24, 2012 at 10:39 AM

    Nicely put together :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. SudhageeDecember 8, 2012 at 2:05 PM

    The Vasudevs are Pardhis, a denotified tribe from Maharashtra, and were listed as a criminal tribe by the British. Though the GoI cancelled the notification, the stigma still remains.

    Great capture, Anu.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thanks so much for stopping by. Please leave a comment for me so that I will know you have been here....

Popular posts from this blog

Gokarna Part II – The Five Lingams

We continued our Gokarna trip by visiting four other Shiva temples in the vicinity, all connected to the same story of Gokarna. The story of Gokarna mentions the Mahabaleshwara Lingam as the one brought from Kailas by Ravana, and kept at this place on the ground by Ganesha. (See my earlier post- Gokarna – Pilgrimage and Pleasure). However, the story does not end here. It is believed that, in his anger, Ravana flung aside the materials which covered the lingam- the casket, its lid, the string around the lingam, and the cloth covering it. All these items became lingams as soon as they touched the ground. These four lingams, along with the main Mahabaleshwara lingam are collectively called the ‘ Panchalingams’ . These are: Mahabaleshwara – the main lingam Sajjeshwar – the casket carrying the lingam. This temple is about 35 Kms from Karwar, and is a 2 hour drive from Gokarna. Dhareshwar – the string covering the lingam. This temple is on NH17, about 45 Kms south of Gokarna. Gunavanteshw
7 comments
Read more

The Havelis of Bikaner - A Photo Post

The lanes are narrow , twisting and turning amidst buildings old and new. Crumbling old structures with intricate workmanship stand side by side with art deco buildings, and more modern constructions, which follow no particular style. Autos, bicycles, motorcycles and vans rush past, blowing their horns as loudly as possible, while cows saunter past peacefully, completely unaffected by the noise. In the midst of all this chaos, children play by the side, and women go about their chores, as we explore these by-lanes of Bikaner, and its beautiful Havelis. Facade of one of the Rampuria Havelis
8 comments
Read more

The Elephanta Caves

The Elephanta Caves , located on Elephanta Island, or Gharapuri, about 11 Km off the coast of the Gateway of India, Mumbai, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A visit to these caves, excavated probably in the 6 th century CE, is awe-inspiring, and also thought-provoking. Over the years, I have visited the caves a number of times, and also attended a number of talks by experts in the fields of art, history and archaeology on the caves. Together, they help me understand these caves, their art, and the people they were created for, just a little bit better. Every new visit, every new talk, every new article I read about the caves, fleshes out the image of what the island and the caves would have been like, at their peak. I last wrote about the caves on this blog, in 2011, almost exactly 11 years ago. Since then, my understanding of the caves has, I would like to think, marginally improved. Hence this attempt to write a new and updated post, trying to bring to life, the caves of Elephan
11 comments
Read more