Chowtaal Sammelan celebrates 40 years of Baal Vikaas

BAVINA SOOKDEO

Forty-three primary schools showcased their musical talents at the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha’s Primary Schools’ Chowtaal Sammelan which forms part of the 40th anniversary of the Baal Vikaas Festival.

Baal Vikaas is a Sanskrit term which embodies the essence of nurturing children’s growth, fostering character development, and instilling spiritual transformation. Its core mission lies in cultivating self-respect within each student, guiding them towards a holistic blossoming.

The Baal Vikaas programme was started by the late Satnarayan Maharaj with the first Baal Vikaas Festival being held in 1985.

The Chowtaal Sammelan was held on March 8 in the auditorium of the Lakshmi Girls’ Hindu College.

Chowtaal is an animated and rhythmic form of folk singing and an integral part of Phagwa celebrations. It gained prominence with the arrival of Indian labourers, who brought this tradition with them to Trinidad.

Debe Hindu SDMS Primary School placed first in the Group A schools while Ramai Trace Hindu Primary School placed first in the Group B schools. The schools were judged on drama/dance, festive spirit/rhythmic beat, pronunciation, compositional sequence and melody/harmony.

Group A comprises schools with more than 200 students and Group B are schools with less than 220 pupils.

In chowtaal, there exists various styles of songs, such as jatti, lej and jhumar, each distinguished by unique variations in melody and rhythm. The tradition of chowtaal traces back to the arrival of Indian immigrants in Trinidad, who initially sang it in secluded places due to cultural restrictions.

They upheld their cultural practices, using improvised instruments like the dhantal, a long steel rod-based percussion instrument. Over time, as societal constraints eased, chowtaal singing became a communal activity, with performers visiting households to share their folk songs and so chowtaal remained and grew into what it is today.

On his thoughts on this year’s competition, president of the SDMS Pundits’ Parishad Navin Omadath Maharaj said, “The quality of performances has been steadily improving over the years, and this year was among the highest standards I have personally witnessed.”

He said chowtaal consists of various subcategories, and the portrayal of these has been exceptionally well executed.

“Schools have significantly enhanced their production quality, and what stands out most is the students’ deeper understanding of what they are performing and it shows that the teachers themselves, the tutors and those who have who have been actually responsible for training each other, are understanding it and developing an understanding of what is taking place in terms of the style of singing, what is being said and how they connect between those.”

Maharaj said participation has also increased, with all schools actively involved and many individuals investing time and effort into the event.

“We must commend our teachers, principals, and parents, as their combined support plays a crucial role in shaping the performances we see from our students. The Baal Vikaas committee has done a remarkable job organising the event, working under the guidance of the secretary general, who, in consultation with the committee, determines the festival’s direction. Ultimately, it is a collaborative effort involving educators, organisers, and the talented children who bring it all to life through their performances.”

Primary Schools’ Chowtaal Sammelan

Group A

1st –Debe Hindu School

2nd – Gasparillo Hindu School

3rd – Munroe Road Hindu

Group B

1st – Ramai Trace Hindu

2nd – Clarke Road Hindu

3rd – Happy Hill Hindu