INSIDE THE GURU'S GATE - Anpere

of the scripture in one hour, but to avoid errors from fatigue each of them usually
reads for two to three hours at a twelve hour interval, which equals four shifts during
the forty-eight hour long recitation. Some of the local reciters have acquired fame for
their proficiency in reading. In year 2001 I met Trilok Singh, an 82-year-old man from
the neighboring town Ramnagar who had been a pathi for more than fifty years. His
colleagues verified that he read more than sixty pages in one hour as he had memorized
large sections of the scripture. In case one reciter reads slowly then the others
have to cover it by reading faster to complete it within the given time limit. To keep
the reading unbroken the reciters have developed a sign language to communicate
human needs that may arise during the reading. Pointing with the little finger, for
instance, signifies a more urgent necessity to visit the washroom, while a thumb up
denotes thirst or hunger. Nearby the scriptural dais the reciters usually keep a small
bell to ring for someone to take over their reading if they are stricken with drowsiness
and need a break.
Although no standardized speech style exists for recitations like Akhand path,
the reader is likely to employ melodies and intonations of individual choosing to
bring out the rhyme and rhythm of verses within the text and make the reproduction
of gurbani aesthetically appealing. A common technique of embellishing the recitation
is to create a melody out of three keys in a descending order of pitch. Depending
upon the metrical structure of the verse recited, four or more lines will follow the
same melody, while the end of a verse, usually the line which carries the name of
Nanak, is given a melodic frill that will be pitched higher than the preceding lines
and given a longer intonation. Professional reciters may use their vocal capacities to
glide between the tones in melody and know where to intone words to bring out the
poetic dynamism and beauty of the scripture.
During the course of a reading, the reciter should ideally avoid any contamination
of the pages caused by bodily fluids. More orthodox views prescribe that reciters
preferably cover the mouth with a large handkerchief while reading, even if this
practice is rarely followed. 468 As I observed in Varanasi, the granthi, who often reads
the first verses of the scripture when an Akhand path is starting and subsequently
allows a reciter to continue the reading, masks his mouth with a shawl on these occasions,
while the reciter taking over usually does not. Many of the professional reciters
have by years of practice developed a recital technique where they are using minimal
mouth gestures, and thus expose less saliva while controlling their diaphragm and
breathing to enhance the sound of their voices. They hardly move their lips even if
their voices will penetrate the space inside the gurdwara, even without the assistance
of loudspeakers.
468
During my fieldwork I observed that only reciters at the Sikh center of Patna Sahib masked
their mouth during performances of Akhand path.
269
Published on www.anpere.net in May 2008