Rakesh Gupta, Ashok Sharma
While listening the melody song “Dograiai Dogri Di Maan Rakheyodogri di pooripanchan Rakheyo” by juhi and Roohi, the authors met with childhood memories and started searching about the rituals being practiced in Dogra culture but to our surprise, knowledge on our heritage is not documented anywhere. Norms and values signify the important part of ethnic culture and we have fought a long fight for giving our language dogri a national identity. Perhaps our mother language, heritage and culture is the only way to enable our survival in the present scenario after abrogation of Article 370. The only way that could secure our employment and land rights is to preserve and promote our language, heritage and culture. This is the high time that we start learning Dogra heritage and make it as a part of syllabus for academic programmes for posterity. Our identity remains challenged unlike Kashmiris who must be appreciated for promotion of their culture. Every state give preference for jobs to the person knowing local language and culture. We have to still explore this factor in the newly created UT of J&K. In this direction, the authors are regularly publishing articles on these aspects for imparting knowledge to younger generations. Today we are focusing on the Dogra festivals Drubari..
Duggar festival Drubari is basically Radha Ashtami which is celebrated in many places in India. Apart from Mathura, Vrindavan and Barsana, this festival is also celebrated with great enthusiasm in Jammu and Kashmir. It is important to know why it is locally called Drubari. Drab basically is a Hindi word which means even or Ek rup .It denotes yog about the the love of Lord Krishna and Radha. Both of them are considered as one soul and therefore Lord Krishna amalgamates in Radharani. That is why it is known as Draburi which is celebrated 15 days after Janamashtami to commemorate the birth anniversary of Radha. As per Hindu beliefs, she is the incarnation or avatar of Goddess Lakshmi. According to the legend, it is believed that Lord Krishna once sat in his abode Goloka. He was engrossed in some meditation that suddenly arose in his mind. A bliss appeared from that joyous wave of Lord Krishna which is called Radha. For this reason, it is necessary to name Radha before chanting Shri Krishna. If this is not done then even the full fruits of Krishna chanting would not have been achieved.
According to the scriptures, Radha was born at 4 A.M. in the morning. For this reason, this festival starts from the night itself. Women perform this festival as “Narat” that is fasting without water In this fast, not even a single drop of water is taken throughout the day. On this day, a flag is also placed on the roof of the house for happiness and peace in the family. It is celebrated for the good health, prosperity & long life of children in the coming year. On this festival, the family in which a son is born that year is made Krishna and if a daughter is born, then it is made Radha. While,Karwachauth is meant for long life of the husband, Draburi in Jammu and Kashmir, is meant for long life of every family members. The logic behind the celebration of this festival seems to urge God for fertility and good harvest of pulses & cereal crops. Women keep a fast for the birth of a new child & the long & healthy life of the children already born. On this day Cakes called Rutts and Dropadian are cooked. One Rutt and Dropad each is cooked in the name of God and one each in the name of every the members of the family. With flour, the statue of a man &woman and even pet cow, female buffalo and her calf are made. Then a diya of flour is made to lighten the lamp . A madani and the pot in which curd is churned to prepare lassi,butter & ghee is also made. All these statues are worshipped by offering Dropadan, rutts, fruit, flowers, sprouted pulses/cereal grains on the statues. After offering them in the name of God (mansana) all eatables are then savored or distributed to the girls.
Dropradan are basically a type of chapatis ,one side smeared with oil. To make it we require wheat flour, hot water, and Ghee or Oil..All ingredients are put in a large mixing bowl (Trambri or prat in dogri) to knead into soft dough for at least 10 minutes. The dough is kneaded well to small ball (Paida) .Dust it with wheat flour and pat gently on Roti making board: (chakla),You can alternatively use a rolling pin (Belan) to roll as done for chapati. While rolling add excess flour on one side only (downside) and put on hot tawa. Grease topside with Ghee or oil and keep it in the plate (A).Now spread water over other roti (B) on hot tawa in a similar manner as above. While it being cooked, place the flour side of already cooked (A) over the oilside of (B) and press gently to make it like Parantha (Two layered). Alternatively, if you have two chaklas, you may roll the two rotis at the same time, oiled side on the oiled chakla and dry side on non greasy chaklas with flour dusting and club it before being put on hot tawa .Finally, serve it with Mehri with green chilli
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