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Guddu Rangeela and Chaiala Bihari rule Bihar during Holi

     Patna: Holi, the festival of colours, is celebrated with much zeal in Bihar. The festival gives the people an opportunity to mingle with each other, and at the same time, local singers use the opportunity well to launch their music cassettes based on Holi. Most of the music cassettes released during this period is very rustic in nature, and are most of the times, with double meaning. Some of the leading singers of the region are Sharda Sinha (Maine Pyar Kiya fame), Manoj Tiwary, Guddu Rangeela and Chaiala Bihari. Most of them are a hit as far as Bhojpuri tracks are concerned. During the festival, shops are stacked with a collection of Bhojpuri albums. Lyrics are the important factor for the music to become a hit; they should be appealing and attracting. In most of the cases they are composed with double meanings.

   "Holi is a festival of colours in which people want to enjoy more. Vulgar and obscene languages used in Bhojpuri songs increases the demand of such albums. It pleases them more," said Subhash Kumar, a local. "Holi boosts the sale of double meaning Bhojpuri songs. People listen to it with great interest," says Mohammad Jamir, a shopkeeper. On the other hand, there are many people who oppose the playing of such music. They feel, it mars the image and reputation of the society as a whole. "Songs played on Holi are not good. I feel ashamed while walking with my sister or mother when vulgar songs are being played on the streets. Such songs are bad for the society too," says Akhilesh Mishra, a local. A few professional singers have left singing of Holi songs because of its profanity. "Many singers have sung songs in the past and continue singing vulgar songs. However, there is a liking attached to everything and I don't like such songs. In the past three years, I have not sung any Holi song as it has crossed all limits," said Bijli Rani, a Bhojpuri singer. People have different opinions about Holi, it still promotes unity and a feeling of brotherhood among people of different castes and religion. Speaking on the essence of the festival of colours - Holi, Dadan Pahlwan, the President of the Bihar unit of Samajwadi Party, said, "To build a feeling of brotherhood, we are playing Holi with people from different castes and religion, giving it a shape of Holi milan samaroh". He further added, "Everything is under control and no double meaning songs are being played". The music industry indeed makes a good amount of profit by flooding markets with double meaning lyrics.
-Mar 22, 2005