This folktale of Dhauladhar region of Himalaya has earned a special place specially in Chamba and Kangra valleys. The story is based on love between Fulmoo (female) and Ranjhu(male) who tried to alter the social structure of society of that time which dates back to 1870s. Their love was considered illicit and in the end they both have to give up their lives to be one for time eternal.
The two main characters of this folktale i.e Fulmoo and Ranjhu; Fulmoo belongs to a poor Gaddi family and Ranjhu is younger son of rich Jamindaar of that area. The story of their love is beautifully preserved in folk songs.
Lets take you back to an era in Himachal
when early mornings were welcomed by birds,
when all dressed up in traditional attire,
when Gaddis roamed freely as per their desire
Being shepherds they guide their sheeps' herd
Fulmoo (one who has face like a flower) is daughter of such a Gaddi family and is a Himalayan beauty while Ranjhu is joyful and heedless but a renowned flute player. The sound of whose flute can pierce the silences of Dhauladhars.
Every day Fulmoo accompanied by village girls went to fetch water from Ghat (place where whole village fetches water which is generally a well or a natural stream). On one such occasion Ranjhu was also roaming around ghat along with his friends when his eyes went mesmerised by the beauty of Fulmoo and they both fell in love. Love at first sight, Yes it was..........
Ranjhu used to play flute while sitting in deepest corners of jungle and Fulmoo who was intoxicated by sound of flute always find an excuse to go and meet her Lover.
the folk song goes on :
kangde diya uchiya ridiya bansari baje hoo
dangreyan jo charda Ranjhu minjo sadde hoo..........
(Ranjhu is playing flute in high hills of Kangra valley
while guiding his cattles he is calling me, he is calling me (Fulmoo)
chukya ghdolu gori paniye chali hoo
bansariya di taan ude dille laggi hoo
(intoxicated by the lovely music of flute Fulmoo picked up a vessel and went to fetch water so that she can meet her lover Ranjhu)
kangde diya uchiya ridiya bansari baje hoo
dangreyan jo charda Ranjhu minjo sadde hoo....
rakhya ghdolu goriya ghare jayi ke jayi ke
amma jo galandi aayi kam kamai ke
(when she returned after fetching water she said to her mother that she will return after finishing certain work. In her heart she has only one desire to meet Ranjhu)
kangde diya uchiya ridiya bansari baje hoo
dangreyan jo charda Ranjhu minjo sadde hoo....
sajna ne mili gori dharan jayi ke
vyahi kari ke leyi ja minjo ghare aayi ke....
(She met her lover in high meadows and she told him to take her with him after marrying her )
kangde diya uchiya ridiya bansari baje hoo
dangreyan jo charda Ranjhu minjo sadde hoo....
sanjha deyiya gori cham-cham ghare aayi e...
leyi jani ranjhue vyahi kari ke
(happily, she returned in the evening. Ranjhu will take her with him after marrying her)
kangde diya uchiya ridiya bansari baje hoo
dangreyan jo charda Ranjhu minjo sadde hoo....
bansariya di taan ude dile bajje ho
(She is mesmerised with tone of flute)
mithi mithi taan udde dile lagge ho
(She is intoxiated by the sweet tone of flute )
It is said that you cant hide Love for long time. Soon people got to know about love of Fulmoo and Ranjhu. After scolding her badly Fulmoo was locked in a room and Ranjhu was also jailed in his own home.
Ranjhu's father, The Jamindaar soon sent for the Pandit(Priest) and Pandit hastily arranged for marriage of Ranjhu in a socially equal family in next village.
One day Fulmoo escaped from her home and when she reached near the house of Ranjhu; She peeped through the boundary wall which was made up of thorny bushes. The ground below her feet slipped as she saw the proceedings of Ranjhu's Marriage going on. She stood there for some time and Ranjhu, to whom the custom of Butna (Haldi/mustard paste) was being performed, saw her peeping and the folk song based on conversation between their eyes goes on:
Baduein Sughaduein tu kiyan jhankdi
Jhanka kajo maardi
Do hath Butne de layan o Fulmoo
Galan hoiyan beetiyaan
Galan hoiyan beetiyaan
(Ranjhu: Why are you peeping through Bushes
Why are you taking a glimpse
Come and apply mustard paste O Fulmoo
These things have happened
These things have happened......)
Butna luan teri saki pabiyan
Teri saki chachiyan
Jina de mane vich cha o Ranjhu
Galan kiyan bitiyan
Galan kiyan bitiyan
(Fulmoo: your kins will apply the mustard paste
who are fulfilling their hearts desire about your marriage Ranjhu
How things happened
How things happened O Ranjhu)
Baduein Sughaduein tu kiyan jhankdi
Jhanka kajo maardi
Do hath mehndiya de layan o Fulmoo
Mera vyah lagya
Galan hoiyan beetiyaan
Galan hoiyan beetiyaan
(Ranjhu: Why are you peeping through Bushes
Why are you taking a glimpse
Come and apply mehndi O Fulmoo
Its my marriage goin on
These things have happened
These things have happened......)
Kunni bo bamne tera vyah padya
Ho vyah likhya
Kunni bo kiti kadmayi ranjhu
Galan kiyan beetiyan
Galan kiyan beetiyan
(Fulmoo: which priest fixed your marriage
who fixed terms and conditions
who was middle man
How things happened
How things happened O Ranjhu )
kulle de purote mera vyah padya
Fulmo vyah likhya
Bapuein kiti kadmai Fulmo
Galan hoi beetiyan
Galan hoi beetiyan
( Our family priest fixed the marriage
He fixed all terms and conditions
My father was the middle man O Fulmo
These things have happened
These things have happened )
Jini bo bamne tera vyah dikhya
Ranjhu vyah likhya
Use di na poe kadi puri Ranjhu
Galan kiyan beetiyan
Galan kiyan beetiyan
(The priest who arranged your marriage
Ranjhu who fixed your marriage
will never attain liberation
How things happened
How things happened.......)
Feeling heart broken Fulmoo ran away to forest and ate a poisonous herb and to the unbearable pain of separation, she gave up her life.
Next day when Ranjhu as a Groom was being carried in a palanquin along with family, friends and villagers (Barat) to the next village for the marriage; He saw people carrying a deadbody on the other side of hill. When he enquired about the deceased he came to know about the Fulmoo. He ordered palanquin bearers to lay down palaqi and told his kins that he will do marriage only after he cremate the dead body of Fulmoo.
Uaare uaare Ranjhue di Janj Jae
O loko jani jae
Parein parein fulmo di loth loko
Galan hoi beetiyan
Galan hoi beetiyan
(At one side of hill the Kins of Ranjhu are going with him to the Girls' place for the marriage
On other side kins of Fulmoo are carrying her dead body for cremation
These things have happened
These things have happened )
Rakha o kaharo meri palkiya
O meri palkiya
Fulmo jo lakdi main pani loko
Galan hoiyan beetiyan
Galan hoiyan beetiyan
(o palanquin Bearers lay down my palaqui
I want to do cremation proceedings of Fulmoo
These things have happened
These things have happened )
Bayein hathe Fulmoo jo lakdi payi
O loko lakdi payi
Dayein hathein Fulmoo jo laya lambua
Galan hoi beetiyan
Galan hoi beetiyan
(By left hand Ranjhu placed wood over Fulmoo
By right hand he set her (dead body) on Fire
These things have happened
These things have happened )
Preet ni lani loko kachchyan kanne
O loko kuwarean kanne
Vyah kari hunde beimaan loko
Galan hoi beetiyan
Galan hoi beetiyan
( Never fell in love with infirm people
they will marry someone else
These things have happened
These things have happened )
He crossed the river and went to other side where the body of Fulmoo was laying on pile of wood (chita). With Left hand he placed wood over her and in the right he holds a lightened piece of wood for cremation . He cremated his love and when the ardent fire was flickering Ranjhu jumped in the burning pile of wood, which makes their Love immortal and which is still sung in Folk songs of Himachal.
To those who love beyond the boundaries of life and death.................
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