Dancing with 'Devtās': Drums, Power and Possession in the Music of Garhwal, North India

Abstract

September through December is a busy time for musicians in the central Himalayan region of Garhwal. The festivals of 'Natiātri', 'Diwāli' and 'Bagwāl', which fall during this time, require the participation of musicians in late-night celebrations of dancing, religious rituals, processions with deities and possession ceremonies. Small festivals of more localized significance also fall during this time to coincide with the end of the harvest. Similarly, 'Pāñḍavalīlā' rituals, in which villagers re-enact the lives of the Pandava brothers from the Māhābharata are celebrated in numerous villages in some parts of Garhwal. During November, the wedding season is in full swing and by early December roads become a thoroughfare for bridegroom parties as they proceed in ritual conquest to collect their brides. All these festivities provide valuable income to members of musician caste groups, particularly drummers, whose instruments play a crucial role in entertainment and ritual.