Iqbal Ahmad
The centuries-old popular folk dance called Dhambali has almost become an outdated performing art of Kashmir valley. Since few decades back it was considered one of the most popular dances of Kashmir and was played on several cultural and social events with in the valley villages. But as things have changed, this art is hardly nowadays played anywhere except on certain special occasions of few Sufi saints. The community of the artists called ‘Bhands’ or ‘Dhambali Faqir’ have given up the art and are searching for alternatives as Dhambali no longer earns them livelihood.
The new social order and the indifference of the powers that be, according to the artists, are the causes of decline of the art.
Muhammad Raman Bhand says gone are the days when Dhambali Faqirs were treated as esteemed artists. These days not only the artists but even their children are being looked down upon and treated as untouchables.
The artists associated with this trade feel alienation , they say people no longer like the dance and treat it as a somewhat inferior form of art. Even their grown-ups do not like to be called sons of Bhands.
Ghulam Rasool Bhand, while seconding the views says “The government never took this art seriously and the artists had to face difficult times. The Dhambali institution of Kashmir was never recognized and neither any financial assistance was given to the people associated with it
The tradition of Damali dance has actually evolved from the famous tomb of Moulana Rumi which is situated at the town of Konya in Turkey. It is said that his followers and his son Sultan Walad Sultan founded the Mawlawiyah Sufi order, also known as the Order of the Whirling Dervishes, that is famous for its Sufi dance known as the sama ceremony. The people who perform this Sama are called Dervishes and are held in high regard by the Sufis of Turkey.
It is at this Sufi centre that the followers of Rumi’s school of thought gather at his tomb and present Sama. The followers first make circles and then dance while standing in chrous .
It is said that from here this Sufi practice travelled to central Asian states and at last reached Kashmir. In Kashmir it lost its name to Dervish dance and came to be known as Dhamali dance. Many kashmiri Sufis followed and promoted it in their respective Khanqahs. Baba Naseeb Ud Din Gazi born in Sailkote is learnt to have followed the Mawlawiyah Sufi order and adopted it with the aim to gather people for distribution of alms and other public works.
Baba Naseem ud din Gazi’s tomb is suituated at Bijbehara in south kashmir. He is also titled as ‘Abul Fuqra’, the father of the poor. It is said that the saint had spent his entire life caring for orphans, poor and the destitute, building of Khanqahs and Mosques.
A legend has it that about 1200 Khanqahs were built by the saint. The drum-beating and Dhambali were used to call people for participating in public constructions.
The tradition continued and later got reshaped into a folk art.
Every year during the Urs celebrations of the Baba at Bijbehara, a massive demonstration of Dhambali dance is held. The Bhands of Wathura, Imam Sahib, Kalishah Sahib, Parigam, Chambagund and other places demonstrate their skill.
Unfortunately, this Darvish or Damali dance could not be preserved in its real form. Gradually it got reshaped and the Dervishes also did not succeed in maintaining its proper sanctity. It turned as one of folk dance of the valley. Besides, the general people and the cultural authorities turned quite indifferent towards this performing art.
This institution is in shambles while artists performing this art are also shifting towards other trades. As such the centuries old Dhamali dance is vanishing from the Kashmir culture.
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