The Dhaak of Departure: Churamani Dutt and the Birth of a Sacred Rhythm Of Durga Puja Music
The Echo of Farewell
As the vibrant rhythm of the dhaak (traditional drum) fills the air, the collective heart of a community beats in unison, crying out, "How long will the Goddess stay? The time has come for Her immersion." But what is the origin of this special rhythm—the bisarjan dhaak—that marks the Goddess's departure and resonates with deep emotion?
While the significance of the immersion rituals is known, the tale behind the rhythm itself is a story of whim, pride, and an immortal legacy that still echoes through the streets today.
The Man Behind the Beat: Churamani Dutt
The story of the bisarjan dhaak begins with a wealthy and influential man from Kolkata’s Shobhabazar area: Churamani Dutt. Coming from a family of prosperity, the Dutt family had long been part of the city’s elite. However, Churamani was more than just affluent; he was a philanthropist of great repute—and yet, he was also incredibly proud of his wealth.
In Churamani's world, everyone was referred to as “shala,” a term meaning brother-in-law, used with a sense of superiority. His attendants, servants, and palanquin bearers were a common part of his life, and his extravagant lifestyle was as unchallenged as his social status.
A Strange Whim Leads to a Ritual
One fateful day, Churamani was traveling to his office in his usual manner, riding in a palanquin carried by his servants. Upon arrival, he began sharpening a reed pen to write. But in a moment of carelessness, he cut his finger, causing blood to spill for the first time in his life. Startled by this unexpected injury, Churamani was struck by the realization that he was, in fact, mortal.
In a panic, he immediately ordered his attendants to call for the palanquin bearers. He was going home. The household rushed into chaos, and soon Churamani arrived back at his residence.
A Ritual of Immortality
Once back, Churamani’s orders were clear: he wanted the women of the household to complete their baths and meals immediately. His estate manager, or dewan, was summoned urgently, and Churamani made his bold demand—he wanted a hundred drummers. Without hesitation, a hundred dhaakis (drummers) were gathered for this unprecedented occasion.
But Churamani’s whims didn’t end there. He commanded that a cot be laid out for him, and dressed in white garments with a sacred cloth tied around his head, he climbed onto it. The drummers were instructed to write the names of various deities—Durga, Kali, Ram, and Hari—on his body and head.
Churamani then gave his final instruction to the drummers: “You will not play the usual rhythm of immersion. I will teach you a new beat. Play to this rhythm.”
He then proceeded to chant a set of lines, marking a new departure from the traditional beats that accompanied the immersion rituals:
যম জিনিতে যায়,
তোরা দেখবি যদি আয়।
যম জিনিতে যায় রে চূড়া
যম জিনিতে যায়।’
“Duniya jiniye Chura,
Jam jinite jaaye,
Tora dekhbi jodi aay.
Jam jinite jaaye re Chura,
Jam jinite jaaye.”
(Chura conquers the world,
He now goes to conquer Death itself.
Come see, if you dare—
Chura goes to conquer Death!)
The rhythm was revolutionary. With this chant, the dhakis began to drum in unison, and Churamani clapped his hands to the beat, repeating his chant with fervor, "Jam jinite jaaye re Chura, Jam jinite jaaye!" The procession began, and even Churamani invited Raja Nabakrishna Deb of Shobhabazar to witness the spectacle.
The Final Journey: Immersion into the Ganga
As evening descended, the grand procession, accompanied by the deafening beat of the dhaaks, reached the banks of the Ganga. The crowd was enormous, caught up in the spectacle of Churamani's grand final ritual.
With the river before him, Churamani gave his final command: “Lower the cot into the river.” As the attendants did so, the crowd chanted, “Ganga Narayan Brahma!” In a dramatic gesture, Churamani scooped a handful of Ganga water and declared, “Come, Yama (Lord of Death)—today you shall be defeated.”
And with that, his mortal journey came to an end. The crowd erupted into a victory cry: "Glory to Churamani Dutt, the conqueror of Death!"
The Immersion Dhaak: A Lasting Legacy
Thus, the rhythm that Churamani Dutt had invented became the beat that still accompanies the immersion of the Goddess every year. The special bisarjan dhaak—with its chants of conquest and transcendence—has since become an integral part of the immersion ceremony, marking not just the end of Durga Puja but a powerful reminder of the human desire to conquer mortality.
Today, the question “How long will the Goddess stay? The time has come for Her immersion” is still echoed in the same rhythm that Churamani Dutt invented—connecting the past and present in a timeless farewell.
A Whim That Shaped Tradition
What began as the whims of an extraordinarily proud man has left an indelible mark on Kolkata's cultural and religious landscape. The bisarjan dhaak, born of Churamani Dutt’s desire to create a grand farewell to life itself, continues to resonate deeply with every drumbeat that fills the air during Durga Puja’s immersion. It is a rhythm that celebrates not only the Goddess’s departure but also the triumph of the human spirit over death—a sentiment that will forever be remembered, as long as the drums continue to echo.