Last week, one of my friends introduced me to 'Deusi Bhailo', an event celebrated during the Tihar festival in Nepal. Tihar is also known as Deepawali and Yamapanchak and is the festival of lights, a five-day event celebrated by the Hindus in Nepal and Bhutan primarily. I was intrigued by the enthusiasm with which the Nepalese cherish this age-old tradition and so decided to dig in and know more about it.
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Deusi Bhailo Tihar |
What is Deusi-Bhailo?
On the third and fourth days of Tihar, people of all ages form groups, visit their family and friend's houses and give several singing and dance performances on the traditional songs of Nepal called Deusi and Bhailo. In this cultural event, the women take part in Bhailo and the men in Deusi. The performers are showered with blessings particularly from the elderly and offered flowers, fruits, and money. The program begins in the afternoon and goes on till late night although recently the ministry of Nepal has limited this to 10 pm for safety concerns. The entire program lasts for about half an hour in one house after which the group moves to another house. Popular cultural dance groups that perform every year are sent special invites by certain communities to dance at their places.
These events go on for the next two days till 'Bhai Tika', the event where sisters and brothers exchange garlands and tika (mark on the forehead). It is believed that in the olden days, the brothers bought gifts for their sisters using the money that they received after their dance performances on Deusi Bhailo songs.
Historical background of Deusi Bhailo
The origin of Deusi Bhailo dates back to Hindu mythology when people on Earth celebrated the arrival of King Bali from the dungeon for the 5 days of Tihar. King Bali was known for his utter generosity according to the Baman Puran and so Bali was revered by the people. But knowing his lineage to demons, it was said that he would turn into a demon if he acquired ultimate power after performing a ritual. To prevent this from happening, Lord Bishnu disguised himself and went to the place where the ritual was taking place and asked for taking 3 steps. He covered the Earth in just 2 steps and for the third one, he demanded the head of King Bali to step on it. Hence the word Deusi is derived from 'deusire' where deu means give and sire means head. King Bali was sent to the dungeon and has known to return to Earth during the five days of Tihar.
Most popular lyrics of Deusi Bhailo songs
Ae Bhanamera Bhai ho. .. Deusi re
Ae RamrariBhana... Deusi re
Ae SwarMilai Kana. . . . . Deusi re
Ae Bhananabhana. . . . . Deusi re
Ae ratomato. . . . . Deusi re
Ae chiplobato. . . . . Deusi re
Ae laddaipaddai. . . . . Deusi Re
ayekahami. . . . . Deusi Re
ae kola ko Thambo. . . . . Deusi re
Ae dus bhai jamma. . . . . Deusi re
Ae Hami maaafai. . . . . Deusi re
Ae ayaykohayina. . . . . Deusi re
Ae Bali Maharaj ko. . . . . Deusi re
Ae Hukum ma huda. . . . . Deusi re
Ae Aypugyohami. . . . . Deusi Re
ae saikal ko ghanti. . . . . Deusi re
ae chitogarnuanty. . . . . Deusi re
ae kamilakotati. . . . . Deusi re
ae sukisakyoghate. . . . . Deusi re
ae ghodabasnetabela. . . . . Deusi re
ae hamilaibhayoaabala. . . . . Deusi re
ae ghilimilighilimili. . . . . Deusi re
ae ke ko ghilimili. . . . . Deusi re
ae batti ko ghilimili. . . . . Deusi re
ae fula ko ghilimili. . . . . Deusi re
ae chana ma addua. . . . . Deusi re
ae mero sathipaddua. . . . . Deusi re
ae tamul ko kudko. . . . . Deusi re
ae mero sathipudhko. . . . . Deusi re
ae aja ta hami. . . . . Deusi re
ae atinaigauchum. . . . . Deusi re
ae aba hamerali. . . . . Deusi re
ae bidadino. . . . . Deusi re
ae 100 rupyapanidino. . . . . Deusi re
ae ghumaka roti dino. . . . . Deusi re
Bhailoniayinagana,baralikudaligarana
aajausiko din gai tihar ho bhailo
aajausiko din gai tihar ho bhailo
HarioGobar le lipeko,laxmi puja gareko
hey aunsi ko baro gai tihar ho bhailo
hey aunsikobaro gai tihar ho bhailo
hamitesaiayenau,bali raja le pathako
aajaunsiko din gai tihar ho bhailo
aajaunsiko din gai tihar ho bhailo
Ae RamrariBhana... Deusi re
Ae SwarMilai Kana. . . . . Deusi re
Ae Bhananabhana. . . . . Deusi re
Ae ratomato. . . . . Deusi re
Ae chiplobato. . . . . Deusi re
Ae laddaipaddai. . . . . Deusi Re
ayekahami. . . . . Deusi Re
ae kola ko Thambo. . . . . Deusi re
Ae dus bhai jamma. . . . . Deusi re
Ae Hami maaafai. . . . . Deusi re
Ae ayaykohayina. . . . . Deusi re
Ae Bali Maharaj ko. . . . . Deusi re
Ae Hukum ma huda. . . . . Deusi re
Ae Aypugyohami. . . . . Deusi Re
ae saikal ko ghanti. . . . . Deusi re
ae chitogarnuanty. . . . . Deusi re
ae kamilakotati. . . . . Deusi re
ae sukisakyoghate. . . . . Deusi re
ae ghodabasnetabela. . . . . Deusi re
ae hamilaibhayoaabala. . . . . Deusi re
ae ghilimilighilimili. . . . . Deusi re
ae ke ko ghilimili. . . . . Deusi re
ae batti ko ghilimili. . . . . Deusi re
ae fula ko ghilimili. . . . . Deusi re
ae chana ma addua. . . . . Deusi re
ae mero sathipaddua. . . . . Deusi re
ae tamul ko kudko. . . . . Deusi re
ae mero sathipudhko. . . . . Deusi re
ae aja ta hami. . . . . Deusi re
ae atinaigauchum. . . . . Deusi re
ae aba hamerali. . . . . Deusi re
ae bidadino. . . . . Deusi re
ae 100 rupyapanidino. . . . . Deusi re
ae ghumaka roti dino. . . . . Deusi re
Bhailoniayinagana,baralikudaligarana
aajausiko din gai tihar ho bhailo
aajausiko din gai tihar ho bhailo
HarioGobar le lipeko,laxmi puja gareko
hey aunsi ko baro gai tihar ho bhailo
hey aunsikobaro gai tihar ho bhailo
hamitesaiayenau,bali raja le pathako
aajaunsiko din gai tihar ho bhailo
aajaunsiko din gai tihar ho bhailo
English translation
Bhailoni has come in the courtyard, lets broom. . . . . clean the house
today is dark fortnight (new moon) day, the festival of cow tiharbhailo
today is a dark fortnight, festival of cow Tihar bhailo
the floor has been polished with cow dung, worshipping the Goddess Laxmi
today is a dark fortnight, festival of cow tiharbhailo
today is a dark fortnight, the festival of cow tiharbhailo
we did not come here without any reason, we were sent by the king Bali
today is a dark fortnight, the festival of cow tiharbhailo
today is a dark fortnight, the festival of cow tiharbhailo
More of such songs, lyrics and their English translation can be found here.
I enjoyed watching some of the dance videos that represent the culture of Nepal as well as some modern dance styles being performed on Nepali songs. I have included a few below:
In recent times, an increasing number of such groups are working towards social causes and helping the ones in need by requesting communities to invite them and to give them a chance to perform at their places.
Nepalese do take pride in this wonderful tradition of theirs which is filled with enthusiasm, positivity, and happiness. Why not, right?
So, the next time you happen to visit Nepal during the Tihar festival, do enjoy the Deusi Bhailo vibes and continue to spread positivity wherever you go.
More of such songs, lyrics and their English translation can be found here.
I enjoyed watching some of the dance videos that represent the culture of Nepal as well as some modern dance styles being performed on Nepali songs. I have included a few below:
In recent times, an increasing number of such groups are working towards social causes and helping the ones in need by requesting communities to invite them and to give them a chance to perform at their places.
Nepalese do take pride in this wonderful tradition of theirs which is filled with enthusiasm, positivity, and happiness. Why not, right?
So, the next time you happen to visit Nepal during the Tihar festival, do enjoy the Deusi Bhailo vibes and continue to spread positivity wherever you go.
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