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Motini ka byah 2 (Motini's Wedding Feast, Part 2)

Matol Singh
Audio
Motini ka byah 2 (Motini's Wedding Feast, Part 2)
Matol and his troupe present a verbal feast in their performed Dhola. In rural India, weddings are often fraught with tensions: the potential for the marriage itself to be cancelled is always there, and the two parties (the bride's and the groom's) are expected to battle while the members of the groom's party, guests at the bride's home, are to be feasted lavishly. Matol and company present these many issues in a superb piece of verbal and musical art filled with nuance and humor. With Behmata supporting Motini, and Durga acting as Nal's relatives, the wedding proceeds. The two argue over whether Motini should go with a groom who has no relatives (for he is clearly alone) as well as over the food and other preparations. Durga challenges Behmata to feed her huge marriage procession filled with hungry ghosts and goblins. But as Harman reminds us in one line, not only is there plenty of food, but it is made "slightly sour for ghosts." The array of delicacies is mouth-watering, as no doubt it is intended to be! The artistry of these "rural illiterate men" is superb.