Materials
cradle
ICH Materials 118
Audios
(6)-
Malayalam lullaby
This lullaby playfully asks the child, “Do you resemble a lotus or a creeper? A dancing peacock, a Parijat flower, a lamp, or a bouquet of flowers? Are you as pure as milk or as fine as jasmine? Are you born with the blessings of Lakshmi Bhagavati or Lord Padmanabha?” The themes are typical and include the beauty of the child and the blessings of a god. It is sung to the rhythm of the cradle’s rock.
India 1938 -
Lullaby_2
Uzbek people wrap their babies in cloth and lay them in cradles for bedtime. This lullaby is sung while rocking the cradle to put the child to sleep. It is a very lyrical and beautiful song.
Uzbekistan 미상 -
Palna
Palna means “cradle,” and lullabies are often called “palna” in Mahrasthra. This palna song is addressed to the child Shivaji. It describes the child's restlessness and the mother's attempts to make him to go sleep. Shivaji is a sixteenth-century Maratha King. He was famous for his chivalry and valor in his fight against the Mughal emperors. He remains a popular hero, especially in Maharashtra. His deeds and exploits are sung about in various heroic genres. He is addressed as Shivraya in this song.
India 1938 -
Cardle song
A cradle song for a female child who is born with the blessings of Lord Vaikathappan, for whom the cradle rocks.
India -
Cradle song - Ranpur
Lullabies are called halardain Gujarati. The main line in this lullaby is asking the child to go to sleep. The singer is mentioned as Meghani, who might be Jhaver chand Meghani, a famous folklorist of Gujarat who performed songs and spread the folklore of Gujarat. He is reputed to have collected many lullabies.
India 1939 -
Charan cradle song
This cradle song is sung by a Charan singer. The Charans form a community known for its prowess in recitation and singing. The lyrics describe Devki, the mother of Krishna, putting him to bed. Lullabies and cradle songs about the god Krishna are common in many parts of India. They are sung also on Janmashtami or Gokulashtami, when Krishna’s birth is celebrated. Children are often compared to Krishna and seen as forms of gods. Krishna is often represented in child form, worshipped and referred to as Bal Gopal, which is perhaps why lullabies to Krishna are so common.
India 1938