VIII. Literature

Kumauni Folksongs

Kumauni folk literature is sub-divided into six categories: 1) Folk songs 2) Folk tales 3) Folk ballads 4) Traditional proverbs 5) Traditional puzzles (aaN) 6) Folk theatre
1) Folk songs: In folk songs, there are different varieties such as Nyolee, JoD, JhoDaa, CaaMc Ri, Bair (argument/debate based songs), Phaag, Holi etc.
Nyolee: These are the love songs which are usually in couplet consisting of two lines each. Each and every line is related to each other either through the subject matter or through the emotional experience that the couplet is intended to create to the other line. The first line is sung as an introduction (aalaap). There are different opinions about the origin of Nyolee. According to some scholars, it is a term of address for a ‘new’ woman and some scholars are of the opinion that it means ‘the new lines of the song'. A bird with this name is considered a ‘symbol of grief’ (out of separation) and therefore the name is given to the songs which explore similar themes. Nyolee is addressed to a person in general rather than to any particular addressee. It is applicable to anyone who is passing through similar emotions. Grief arising out of separation is the dominant theme in these songs. It is sometimes sung in the forests and is sometimes sung as statement and response between men and women. Some Nyolees are as follows:

(1)	aaR paakaa baanar kaigyi, paat rukhai chanaa
  ghar choRii pardeS gaichai, waaM lai dukhai chanaa
	
	Through the monkey ate up the ripened fruits, leaves are still on the tree
	Left home for the far away land, but even then there is only sadness

(2)	basmati dhaan kaaTyaa, Khumaa pali e gyaanaa
	baalkaalaa jaayaa kaa dukhaa, aaji lauTi e gyaanaa

	The Basmati paddy has been cut, the roots have again grown
	The same way, the sadness of childhood have come back again

(3)	dhaarai me debi ko thaanaa, bhali cha murtaa
   dho kekhnaa hai pyaiM gaichai, ta teri surtaa

	 On the mountain top, there is a beautiful idol of the goddess
	 But to see your beautiful face has become next to impossible