Wednesday, June 7, 2023

The Secret of Laughing and Crying: Folklore of Gujarat

 Time passed, but Teji never forgot his dream, nor did he tell anyone the secret of his crying and laughing for fear of ridicule.


One day some youths were discussing the announcement made by the king at the chaupal. Teji heard, “The king is looking for a groom for his princess, for whom a swayamvara is to be held. There are certain conditions for participating in Swayamvara. According to the first condition two questions have to be answered. The first question is – there are three cows in the cowshed, you have to tell which cow is the youngest, which one is older and which one is the oldest. The second puzzle is - how can a closed empty room be filled without placing some items? Further, the youths were saying – “Even if someone solves two riddles, it is impossible to fulfill the last condition. Who can dare to enter the palace amidst tight security and then take out gold bricks from under the feet of the princess's bed and bring them in front of the king?" Teji listened to everything carefully and came back home reluctant.


To please the sad son, Heerbai served Teji's favorite bajra roti, chutney and greens, but he got up after eating a couple of morsels. He was lying on the cot in a daze, 'How can I ask my mother if she refused?' That's why Heerbai sat on the pillow and started caressing his head. Suddenly Teji remembered his dream and started laughing, but before mother could be happy, he started crying. That day Heerbai insisted to know the reason. Teji said in a sad voice, "You know the announcement of the king, I also want to go to the court and try my luck, will you let me go?" Heerbai said, "I have full faith in you, you go."

The next day Teji reached the king's court. The king was worried, perhaps his conditions for the Swayamvar were a bit too onerous. Till now no youth had been successful. He found Teji's dress strange. Still, after thinking something, he sent him to the cowshed where all the three cows were. Teji took permission from the king to keep the cows under his care for two-three days. He starved the cows for two days. On the third day, a pile of grass was kept in the ground and a high fence was made by surrounding it with bamboo and rope. Then he brought the cows. The cow that reached the grass in a single jump was the youngest. The cow that reached after trying to jump several times was bigger than her and somehow reached by falling down. The king was satisfied with Teji's answer.


To solve the second puzzle, Tejpal came home after taking some time from the king. He could not understand that how can an empty room be filled without keeping anything? While thinking and thinking, one morning suddenly he found a solution for this too. He reached the king's court. The king took him to a closed empty room. Teji opened all the closed windows and doors of the room. The room was completely filled with sunlight.


The king was amazed by Teji's intelligence. He asked him to fulfill the third condition. After a few days' respite, he returned home again. Kept thinking of tricks together with mother. Heerbai was getting worried for her son, but Teji did not give up. He discovered the possibility of entering the palace from anywhere around the palace by changing his disguise and made a plan.


Teji befriends the grasshopper who carries hay to the stables near the palace. The shearer was a good person. One day Teji told him everything in confidence and said, "Hide me in a bundle of grass and take me to the palace." After listening to him, the shearer took him to the premises of the palace. He hid in a pile of grass and waited for the night to come. No one could see easily in the dark so he was wearing a black dress.

In the middle of the night, hiding in the dark, he reached the princess's room. The princess was fast asleep. The gold bricks under the four legs of the bed were shining even in the dark. He gently woke up the princess. She got scared seeing the black figure. Teji said, "I am Yamdoot, I have come to take you." The princess said fearfully, “I am about to get married, I want to live. Leave me." Teji said, "If I leave you, Yamraj will send another messenger, he will take you. If you do not want to die, hide in the chest placed in front of you, he will not be able to find you." As soon as the princess agreed, Tejpal made her sit in the box, closed the box and took out the gold bricks.


The princess sitting in the box had now completely woken up. She was very scared, thinking whether to shout for the guards or bang the chest. Only then a thought flashed in my mind, 'Isn't this the same young man whose intelligence father was praising! It has fulfilled two conditions and may have come to fulfill the third. He scared me in my sleep by calling himself Yamraj, he is my future husband.' The princess sat silently holding her breath. Started thinking, ' The real bravery, courage and intelligence will be tested when he will leave the safe palace with bricks. Let's see, what does he do?'


Now Tejpal reached the king's room with his feet pressed, the king's royal dress was kept at the head. He put it on and went out. In the dark, the guards saluted him with bowed eyes considering him as a king. The princess heard, Teji was commanding the sentinel, "Get the coachman to remove the carriage and put the box in the princess's room, I have to leave now." On hearing the order, the coachman brought the cart and the box was placed in it. Tejpal came away from the palace dressed as a king. He stopped the car at some distance from his house, got the trunk unloaded and ordered the coachman to return. After he left, he took the princess out of the box and said, “Don't be afraid, I will take you to your father. The condition of the king was such that I had to do all this to fulfill it. Now I am afraid, lest the king punish me for the crime of bringing you here.

" The princess had understood everything, laughingly said, "I will apologize to father for you."

Teji came home with the princess. Seeing both of them, Heerbai asked many questions, but Teji said, "Be patient, I will tell you everything." Then suddenly he remembered his dream, he started laughing. But what is this! The very next moment her eyes filled with tears. The princess asked the reason, but what would the speed tell!


On the other hand, as soon as the princess was not seen in the palace, there was chaos in the palace, everyone was worried. Suddenly the king's eyes fell on the legs of the bed and he understood everything. He sent guards to Teji's house. The guards came in front of the king with both of them. Tejpal put the four bricks of gold in front of the king while apologizing with folded hands. The king decided at the same time that Teji was the only suitable groom for his princess. Poverty is not a bad quality. Teji had proved himself extraordinary by his courage, bravery, intelligence and decency.


The king married the princess with Tejpal with great fanfare. Now Teji could tell everyone the secret of his laughing and crying. His dream had come true and now there was only reason to laugh, no reason to cry.

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