Dewans: Musicians linking man with nature's mysteries

Hafiz Dewan and his associates present a wide variety of the traditional mystic songs

They are often called the dewans and the sarkars, meaning their gurus were called under the same titles. Their linguistic abilities bear the distinct accent of the region they come from. And the dewans usually cater for the village folks in long sessions of parties centering a tomb of a music loving pious man. And centering this tomb men and women gather in faith. An unknown force generates a fear, highly superstitious in nature though, among the rural men and women and that greatly helps keeping all troubles at bay during the musical events.

In Kharakandi area, by the river Kaliganga in Keraniganj, Hafiz Dewan plays his violin while singing. He has written over 300 songs and devoted his life to singing. Most of his songs involve the creator and the creation. The drum beats, the mandira, the violin, the ektara and the voice of Hafiz Dewan entrance the audience.

Hafiz's singing sessions where often men and women dance till morning, has nothing to do with vulgarity or western type free mixing. The listeners converge for the pure love for the creator and his creations. At times when there are two dewans attending a single party, they throw puzzling questions at each other within the songs and answer them. Most questions are about life and nature. There are instances where a panel distributes cash to the winner whose one question has dumbfounded the opponent. Sometimes audiences offer money to the dewans or similar traditional singers.

In every locality throughout the country, there are dewans or traditional singers and dhulis (drummers). They make a living out of singing and are widely respected in the communities. After the deaths of Razzab Dewan and Razzak Dewan their tombs have became a place of worship for thousands of followers, who come throughout the year and sing songs by the tombs.