TESU JHANJHI TRADITION SEES REVIVAL

 

Mathura/Vrindavan

 

Once on the verge of extinction the folk tradition of worshipping Tesu and Jhanjhi in the Braj area, by groups of boys and girls, for ten days and immersion on Dussehra in the river, well or community ponds, has become popular again.

 

Thousands of groups of boys and girls all over Braj mandal marched with their Tesus and Jhanjhis to the ghats or to the village ponds to immerse the idols, alongwith Durga. The tradition coincides with Dussehra when the effigy of Ravana is consigned to flames symbolising the end of evil. "Its not just Tesu and Jhanjhi, we saw renewed interest in Ganesh and Durga puja also. Many old customs of Hindus seem to be in revival mode," noted Mathura's academic Dr Ashok Bansal.

 

"This year we saw renewed interest in the old custom as groups of boys and girls were seen moving around mohallas and streets singing songs  and asking for donations," said a Mathura panda Devendra Chaubey.

 

In the olden days we sang lots of songs, some of us made our own songs, recalled Hari Babu of Goverdhan. "But the most popular one that continues till today is Mera Tesu Yahin Ada, Khaney ko maangey Davi Vada," he says.

 

While the Tesu stands on three legs the Jhanjhi is a multi-coloured earthen pot with holes and has a lamp or a candle lit in it. Tesu is worshipped for ten days by the boys while Jhanjhi is for the girls who also pray for a decent husband.

 

Braj Sanskriti Shodh Sansthan secretary Laxmi Narain Tiwari traces the origin of both to the Mahabharata war.

 

Dhananjya Gautam of Vrindavan laments the loss of interest in the younger generation in these folk traditions which need to be revived. "The teenagers are hooked to gadgets and TV these days which lead to alienation and isolation," adds Braj Mandal Heritage Conservation Society president Surendra Sharma.

 

Vrindavan activist Jagan Nath Poddar explained " the boys carry a decorated model made of clay and profusely coloured, fixed on three sticks while girls carry  a small perforated clay pot with a lit earthen lamp inside it. They go door-to-door in the neighborhood on the eve of the Navaratra and recite the traditional children’s song. Delighted with this performance the neighbors give them gifts and money.

 

On the day of Dusserra the children blindfold the Tesu- Jhanjhi and sing the songs in the day time. Then they immerse them in a well, pond or in Yamuna." The tradition of the tesu-jhanjhi is related to a story of Mahabharata. At Krishna’s request, Bhima’s grandson Barbrik  sacrificed his own head before the Mahabharata war. But before actually chopping his head off, Barbrik expressed his desire to view the forthcoming battle. Krishna agreed to place his head at top of a mountain that overlooked the battlefield. At the end of the war, the Pandavas were arguing amongst themselves about who had made the greatest contribution to their victory. Krishna suggested that Barbarik’s head should be allowed to act as the judge, since he had watched the entire battle. Barbarik’s head stated that it was Krishna alone who had been responsible for the Pandavas’ victory. His advice, his strategy and his presence all had been most crucial to the victory. Pleased with Barbarik, Krishna blessed him that children would worship him in the Kaliyuga in the form of tesu. The tesu thus resembles the head of Barbarik and the jhanjhi resembles his body.