Dhak was once considered as the only musical instrument of any puja. Today Dhak not considered as integral part of Durga Puja.
Once dhak was used in all Pujas of Paschimbanga and without dhak nobody could think about puja at that time. Dhakis used to decorate their dhak with great care as they were also a part of any puja. Gradually situation has changed a lot. Now sound boxes have replaced the sweet dhak beats. Family Durga Pujas and many famous sorbojonin Durga Pujas still stick to dhaks but most of the Puja Committees have rejected the years old tradition of Bengali Pujas.
Season of dhak and dhakis
Normally dhakis season starts from Viswakarma puja, just one month before Durga Puja. As Viswakarma puja is mainly celebrated in factories and work shops, few dhakis get job there for one or two days. It also happens that one dhaki covers more than one puja in near by areas. Actual session of dhakis is supposed to start from Durga Puja and continue upto Kali Puja.
From where the dhakis are coming
Most of the dhakis come from Nadia, Murshidabad, the two 24 Paraganas and other districts. As the season of dhakis is very short, most of the dhakis are engaged with other jobs during the rest of the year. During Durga Puja they form their teams and travel to different parts of Paschimbanga and even other states of Paschimbanga.
How is the present condition of Dhakis and future of dhak
A dhaki was never capable of maintaining his family by simply performing with his dhak during festival times. In earlier days also they were engaged on other professions like daily labour on cultivation fields, running small shops in their village etc. During the festival time they take their instrument and go to different cities and towns to earn some extra money. But presently they are facing challenge from different corners. New generation finds nothing special in dhak beats. Some puja committee use cassette on dhak in their puja pandals. It seems that they like dhak beats but not dhakis. There was a time when many Durga Puja committees had their permanent dhakis and every year they used to perform in fixed Puja pandals. The situation has changed now. Most of the Durga Puja committees are not willing to keep fixed dhakis as new dhakis in every year means there will be scope of bargaining with the poor dhakis. This art is really dyeing as new generation members of dhaki families are not interested in this profession.
In recent years it is observed that many dhakis arrive at Sealdah railway station just before the Durga Puja and from the railway station premise so of them are booked by different Durga Puja committees. They are lucky enough but the rest have to move from pandal to pandal of Durga Puja to get a chance. Some of them even go back to their village before the end of Durga Puja as they were not selected by any Durga Puja committee.
The poor dhakis perform in Durga Pujas and get some money. At the end of Durga Puja they buy Puja dress for their children with the money and go back to their village. The dhakis scarifies a lot during Durga Puja, the main festival of Bengalis. During Durga Puja they stay away from their family and their family members get new dress after the Durga Puja. In some villages of Paschimbanga, dhakis get old shirt, pants, sarees and food grains instead of money. This tradition is continuing from long back and there is no sign of change in the system. Still they are neglected in modern Durga Pujas. One day they may stop to come in Durga Puja pandals to perform and on that day we will realize what we have missed. Durga Puja without dhak beats is unthinkable.
Number of people of different professions depends on festivals of Paschimbanga, specially Durga Puja. Idol makers, Puja pandal theme setters, Brahmins, decorators, dhakis are included in this list. Durga Puja committees should think about them also. During Durga Puja when all Bengalis are in festive mood, enjoying the Puja why some families of state will be in a pensive mood?
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