holi ki bahaareN-nazeer akbarabadi

For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the “English” or “Notes” tab.

ہولی کی بہاریں ۔ نظیر اکبرآبادی

 

جب پھاگن رنگ جھمکتے ہوں تب دیکھ بہاریں ہولی کی

اور دف کے شور کھڑکتے ہوں تب دیکھ بہاریں ہولی کی

پریوں کے رنگ دمکتے ہوں تب دیکھ بہاریں ہولی کی

خم، شیشے، جام، چھلکتے ہوں تب دیکھ بہاریں ہولی کی

 

محبوب نشے میں چھکتے ہوں تب دیکھ بہاریں ہولی کی

 

ہو ناچ رنگیلی پریوں کا بیٹھے ہوں گل رو رنگ بھرے

کچھ بھیگی تانیں ہولی کی کچھ ناز و ادا کے ڈھنگ بھرے

دل بھولے دیکھ بہاروں کو اور کانوں میں آہنگ بھرے

کچھ طبلے کھڑکیں رنگ بھرے کچھ عیش کے دم منہ چنگ بھرے

 

کچھ گھنگھرو تال چھنکتے ہوں تب دیکھ بہاریں ہولی کی

 

سامان جہاں تک ہوتا ہے اس عشرت کے مطلوبوں کا

وہ سب سامان مہیا ہو اور باغ کھلا ہو خوابوں کا

ہر آن شرابیں ڈھلتی ہوں اور ٹھٹھ ہو رنگ کے ڈوبوں کا

اس عیش مزے کے عالم میں ایک غول کھڑا محبوبوں کا

 

کپڑوں پر رنگ چھڑکتے ہوں تب دیکھ بہاریں ہولی کی

 

گل زار کھلے ہوں پریوں کے اور مجلس کی تیاری ہو

کپڑوں پر رنگ کے چھینٹوں سے خوش رنگ عجب گل کاری ہو

منہ لال، گلابی آنکھیں ہوں، اور ہاتھوں میں پچکاری ہو

اس رنگ بھری پچکاری کو انگیا پر تک کر ماری ہو

 

سینوں سے رنگ ڈھلکتے ہوں تب دیکھ بہاریں ہولی کی

 

اس رنگ رنگیلی مجلس میں وہ رنڈی ناچنے والی ہو

منہ جس کا چاند کا ٹکڑا ہو اور آنکھ بھی مے کے پیالی ہو

بد مست بڑی متوالی ہو ہر آن بجاتی تالی ہو

مے نوشی ہو بے ہوشی ہو ”بھڑوے” کی منہ میں گالی ہو

 

بھڑوے بھی، بھڑوا بکتے ہوں تب دیکھ بہاریں ہولی کی

 

اور ایک طرف دل لینے کو محبوب بھویوں کے لڑکے

ہر آن گھڑی گت بھرتے ہوں کچھ گھٹ گھٹ کے کچھ بڑھ بڑھ کے

کچھ ناز جتاویں لڑ لڑ کے کچھ ہولی گاویں اڑ اڑ کے

کچھ لچکے شوخ کمر پتلی کچھ ہاتھ چلے کچھ تن بھڑکے

 

کچھ کافر نین مٹکتے ہوں تب دیکھ بہاریں ہولی کی

 

یہ دھوم مچی ہو ہولی کی اور عیش مزے کا جھکڑ ہو

اس کھینچا کھینچ گھسیٹی پر بھڑوے رنڈی کا پھکڑ ہو

معجون، شرابیں، ناچ، مزہ، اور ٹکیا سلفا ککڑ ہو

لڑ بھڑ کے نظیرؔ بھی نکلا ہو، کیچڑ میں لتھڑ پتھڑ ہو

 

جب ایسے عیش مہکتے ہوں تب دیکھ بہاریں ہولی کی

होली कि बहारें- नज़ीर अकबराबादी

 

जब फागुन रंग झमकते हों तब देख बहारें होली की

और दफ़ के शोर खड़कते हों तब देख बहारें होली की

परियों के रंग दमकते हों तब देख बहारें होली की

ख़ुम, शीशे, जाम, झलकते हों तब देख बहारें होली की

 

महबूब नशे में छकते हों तब देख बहारें होली की

 

हो नाच रंगीली परियों का बैठे हों गुल-रू रंग-भरे

कुछ भीगी तानें होली की कुछ नाज़-ओ-अदा के ढंग-भरे

दिल भूले देख बहारों को और कानों में आहंग भरे

कुछ तबले खड़कें रंग-भरे कुछ ऐश के दम मुँह-चंग भरे

 

कुछ घुंघरू ताल छनकते हों तब देख बहारें होली की

 

सामान जहाँ तक होता है उस इशरत के मतलूबों का

वो सब सामान मुहय्या हो और बाग़ खिला हो ख़्वाबों का

हर आन शराबें ढलती हों और ठठ हो रंग के डूबों का

इस ऐश मज़े के आलम में एक ग़ोल खड़ा महबूबों का

 

कपड़ों पर रंग छिड़कते हों तब देख बहारें होली की

 

गुलज़ार खिले हों परियों के और मज्लिस की तय्यारी हो

कपड़ों पर रंग के छींटों से ख़ुश-रंग अजब गुल-कारी हो

मुँह लाल, गुलाबी आँखें हों, और हाथों में पिचकारी हो

उस रंग-भरी पिचकारी को अंगिया पर तक कर मारी हो

 

सीनों से रंग ढलकते हों तब देख बहारें होली की

 

उस रंग-रंगीली मज्लिस में वो रंडी नाचने वाली हो

मुँह जिस का चाँद का टुकड़ा हो और आँख भी मय के प्याली हो

बद-मसत बड़ी मतवाली हो हर आन बजाती ताली हो

मय-नोशी हो बेहोशी हो भड़वे की मुँह में गाली हो

 

भड़वे भी, भड़वा बकते हों तब देख बहारें होली की

 

और एक तरफ़ दिल लेने को महबूब भवय्यों के लड़के

हर आन घड़ी गत भरते हों कुछ घट घट के कुछ बढ़ बढ़ के

कुछ नाज़ जतावें लड़ लड़ के कुछ होली गावें अड़ अड़ के

कुछ लचके शोख़ कमर पतली कुछ हाथ चले कुछ तन भड़के

 

कुछ काफ़िर नैन मटकते हों तब देख बहारें होली की

 

ये धूम मची हो होली की और ऐश मज़े का झक्कड़ हो

उस खींचा-खींच घसीटी पर भड़वे रंडी का फक्कड़ हो

माजून, शराबें, नाच, मज़ा, और टिकिया सुल्फ़ा कक्कड़ हो

लड़-भिड़ के ‘नज़ीर’ भी निकला हो, कीचड़ में लत्थड़-पत्थड़ हो

 

जब ऐसे ऐश महकते हों तब देख बहारें होली की

Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. nazir akbarabadi (1735-1830) wrote classical soofiyaana and romantic Ghazal in chaste urdu and also nazm on folk festivals and subjects of everyday interest in the spoken language of the day – hindvi/reKhta. This is a nazm on holi, but still in literary urdu using a few hidvi/reKhta expressions.

jab phaagun1 raNg jhamakte2 hoN tab dekh bahaareN3 holi ki
aur daf4 ke shor5 khaRakte6 hoN tab dekh bahaareN holi ki
pariyauN ke raNg damakte7 hoN tab dekh bahaareN holi ki
Khum8, shishe, jaam chhalakte9 hoN tab dekh bahaareN holi ki
1.spring 2.dazzle 3.used here to mean blooming/beauty/celebration 4.tambourine 5.sound 6.banging 7.glow 8.flask 9.overflow, spill
When the colours of spring dazzle, then come and see the beauty of holi. When the tambourine sounds are loud, then see the joy of holi. When fairies/damsels glow in colourful dresses the see the blooming of holi. When flask, bottle and cup spill with wine, then see the celebration of holi.

mahbub1 nashe2 meN chhakte3 hoN tab dekh bahaareN holi ki  1.beloved 2.intoxication 3.satiated, fulfilled
When the beloved is satiated with wine and inebriated then see the pleasure of holi.

ho naach raNgili pariyauN ka baiThe hoN gul-ru1 raNg-bhare
kuchh bheegi taaneN holi ki kuchh naaz-o-ada2 ke Dhang3 bhare
dil bhule dekh bahaarauN ko aur kaanauN meN aahang4 bhare
kuchh table khaDken raNg-bhare kuchh aish5 ke dam6 muNh-chaNg7 bhare 
1.flower faced 2.pride and coquetry 3.style 4.melody 5.luxury 6.moment, time
When colourful/beautiful fairies/damsels dance and flower faced beauties sit across with colours, singing soulful tunes of holi, showing an aloof and coquettish style; when you see these beauties the heart forgets (all sorrows) and ears are filled with melodies. When there is some thrumming on drums, bringing joy in luxurious moments adding to the tunes of the mouth-organ …

kuchh ghunghru taal chhanakte hoN tab dekh bahaareN holi ki  … when some ankle bells tinkle a tune, then see the pleasures of holi.

saamaan jahaaN tak hota hai us ishrat1 ke matloobauN2 ka
wo sab saamaan muhayya3 ho aur baaGh khila ho KhwaabauN ka
har aan4 sharabeN Dhalti hoN aur ThaTh5 ho raNg ke DoobauN ka
is aish6 maze ke aalam7 meN ek Ghaul8 khaRa mahbubauN9 ka
1.joy, pleasure 2.seekers 3.available 4.moment 5.crowd 6.luxury 7.condition/ambience 8.mob 9.lovers
Whatever means/things are required for the joy of these seekers of pleasure, when those means are made available, when the garden of dreams is in full bloom, when every moment wine is flowing and there is a crowd drenched in colours; in these conditions of luxury and pleasure a crowd lovers standing expectantly and …

kapRauN par raNg chhiRakte hoN tab dekh bahaareN holi ki  … when they spray dye on clothes, then see the pleasures of holi.

gulzar1 khile hoN pariyauN ke aur majlis2 ki tayyaari ho
kapRauN par raNg ke chheeNTauN se Khush-raNg3 ajab gul-kaari4 ho
muNh laal, gulaabi aaNkhen hoN, aur haathauN meN pichkari ho
us raNg-bhari pichkari ko aNgiya5 par tak6 kar maari ho 
1.garden 2.gathering, party 3.beautiful 4.flowery designs 5.body 6.stare/aim
When the garden is blooming (filled) with fairies (beautiful damsels) getting ready for the party, beautiful colours spots making flowery patterns on their clothes; their mouths red (with paan), eyes rose coloured (with drinking?), and we (crowd of lovers) holding dye spray-guns in our hands and shooting, taking careful aim at their bodies …

seenauN se raNg Dhalakte hoN tab dekh bahaareN holi ki  … and colour drips from their bosom, then see the joy of holi.

us raNg-raNgili majlis1 meN wo ranDi2 nachne wali ho
muNh jis ka chaand ka TukRa ho aur aaNkh bhi mai3 ke pyali ho
bad-mast4 baRi matwaali5 ho har aan6 bajaati taali ho
mai-noshi7 ho behoshi8 ho bhaRwe9 ke muNh meN gaali ho 
1.gathering, party 2.dancing girl 3.wine 4.intoxicated 5.happy 6.moment 7.wine drinking 8.intoxication 9.used here for bawdy transvestite
In the party there are two characters either imagined or perhaps the accepted practice of the day … the dancing girl and the bawdy transvestite. When the party is colourful and the moon-faced dancing girl, her eyes like goblets of wine, inebriated and happy, clapping a tune constantly and when there is some drinking some inebriation and the transvestive …

bhaDwe bhi, bhaDwa bakte hoN tab dekh bahaareN holi ki  … teasing everyone with their bawdy jokes, then see the celebration of holi.

aur ek taraf dil lene ko mahbub1 bhawayyauN2 ke laRke
har aan ghaRi gat3 bharte hoN kuchh ghaT-ghaT4 ke kuchh baRh-baRh5 ke
kuchh naaz6 jataaweN7 laR-laR ke kuchh holi gaaweN aR-aR ke
kuchh lachke shooKh8 kamar patli kuchh haath chale kuchh tan9 bhaRke10   
1.lovers 2.well behaved, well bred 3.tune 4.hesitating 5.daring 6.used here to mean to ‘rights/demands’ 7.assert 8.mischievous 9.body 10.alight on fire
And on one side well behaved lover boys, humming a tune all the time, sometimes hesitating, sometimes daring, fighting to assert their rights, singing songs of holi awkardly, (and on the other side), some slim waists sway, hands are extended (and grasped), some bodies set afire (with love) …

kuchh kaafir1 nain2 maTakte hoN tab dekh bahaareN holi ki  1.sinner, mischievous 2.eyes
… some mischief making eyes roll, then see the pleasure of holi.

ye dhoom machi ho holi ki aur aish1 maze2 ka jhakkaR3 ho
us khincha-khinch ghasiTi par bhaRwe4 ranDi5 ka phakkaR6 ho
maajun7, sharabeN, naach, maza, aur Tikiya8 sulfa9 kakkaR10 ho
laR-bhiR11 ke nazir bhi nikla ho keechaR12 meN laththaR-paththaR13 ho  
1.pleasure 2.joy 3.storm 4.transvestive 5.dancing girl 6.quarrel 7.hashish 8.tablet (of some intoxicant/drug) 9.hemp 10. tobacco extract 11.fun-fight 12.mud 13.wallowed in, covered with
And this loud partying of holi with a storm of joy and pleasure, and in that push and pull and drag that pleasant quarrel of the transvestite and the dancing girl, some alcohol, some drugs and their nazir after a pleasant fight emerges covered in mud …

jab aise aish1 mahakte2 hoN tab dekh bahaareN holi ki 1.pleasure 2.bloom
… when such pleasure bloom, then see the joy of holi.

nazir akbarabadi (1735-1830) wrote classical soofiyaana and romantic Ghazal in chaste urdu and also nazm on folk festivals and subjects of everyday interest in the spoken language of the day – hindvi/reKhta.  This is a nazm on holi, but still in literary urdu using a few hidvi/reKhta expressions.

 

jab phaagun1 raNg jhamakte2 hoN tab dekh bahaareN3 holi ki
aur daf4 ke shor5 khaRakte6 hoN tab dekh bahaareN holi ki
pariyauN ke raNg damakte7 hoN tab dekh bahaareN holi ki
Khum8, shishe, jaam chhalakte9 hoN tab dekh bahaareN holi ki

1.spring 2.dazzle 3.used here to mean blooming/beauty/celebration 4.tambourine 5.sound 6.banging 7.glow 8.flask 9.overflow, spill

When the colours of spring dazzle, then come and see the beauty of holi.  When the tambourine sounds are loud, then see the joy of holi.  When fairies/damsels glow in colourful dresses the see the blooming of holi.  When flask, bottle and cup spill with wine, then see the celebration of holi.

mahbub1 nashe2 meN chhakte3 hoN tab dekh bahaareN holi ki

1.beloved 2.intoxication 3.satiated, fulfilled

When  the beloved is satiated with wine and inebriated then see the pleasure of holi.

ho naach raNgili pariyauN ka baiThe hoN gul-ru1 raNg-bhare
kuchh bheegi taaneN holi ki kuchh naaz-o-ada2 ke Dhang3 bhare
dil bhule dekh bahaarauN ko aur kaanauN meN aahang4 bhare
kuchh table khaDken raNg-bhare kuchh aish5 ke dam6 muNh-chaNg7 bhare

1.flower faced 2.pride and coquetry 3.style 4.melody 5.luxury 6.moment, time

When colourful/beautiful fairies/damsels dance and flower faced beauties sit across with colours, singing soulful tunes of holi, showing an aloof and coquettish style; when you see these beauties the heart forgets (all sorrows) and ears are filled with melodies.  When there is some thrumming on drums, bringing joy in luxurious moments adding to the tunes of the mouth-organ …

kuchh ghunghru taal chhanakte hoN tab dekh bahaareN holi ki

… when some ankle bells tinkle a tune, then see the pleasures of holi.

saamaan jahaaN tak hota hai us ishrat1 ke matloobauN2 ka
wo sab saamaan muhayya3 ho aur baaGh khila ho KhwaabauN ka
har aan4 sharabeN Dhalti hoN aur ThaTh5 ho raNg ke DoobauN ka
is aish6 maze ke aalam7 meN ek Ghaul8 khaRa mahbubauN9 ka

1.joy, pleasure 2.seekers 3.available 4.moment 5.crowd 6.luxury 7.condition/ambience 8.mob 9.lovers

Whatever means/things are required for the joy of these seekers of pleasure, when those means are made available, when the garden of dreams is in full bloom, when every moment wine is flowing and there is a crowd drenched in colours; in these conditions of luxury and pleasure a crowd lovers standing expectantly and …

kapRauN par raNg chhiRakte hoN tab dekh bahaareN holi ki

… when they spray dye on clothes, then see the pleasures of holi.

gulzar1 khile hoN pariyauN ke aur majlis2 ki tayyaari ho
kapRauN par raNg ke chheeNTauN se Khush-raNg3 ajab gul-kaari4 ho
muNh laal, gulaabi aaNkhen hoN, aur haathauN meN pichkari ho
us raNg-bhari pichkari ko aNgiya5 par tak6 kar maari ho

1.garden 2.gathering, party 3.beautiful 4.flowery designs 5.body 6.stare/aim

When the garden is blooming (filled) with fairies (beautiful damsels) getting ready for the party, beautiful colours spots making flowery patterns on their clothes; their mouths red (with paan), eyes rose coloured (with drinking?), and we (crowd of lovers) holding dye spray-guns in our hands and shooting, taking careful aim at their bodies …

seenauN se raNg Dhalakte hoN tab dekh bahaareN holi ki

… and colour drips from their bosom, then see the joy of holi.

us raNg-raNgili majlis1 meN wo ranDi2 nachne wali ho
muNh jis ka chaand ka TukRa ho aur aaNkh bhi mai3 ke pyali ho
bad-mast4 baRi matwaali5 ho har aan6 bajaati taali ho
mai-noshi7 ho behoshi8 ho bhaRwe9 ke muNh meN gaali ho

1.gathering, party 2.dancing girl 3.wine 4.intoxicated 5.happy 6.moment 7.wine drinking 8.intoxication 9.used here for bawdy transvestite

In the party there are two characters either imagined or perhaps the accepted practice of the day … the dancing girl and the bawdy transvestite.  When the party is colourful and the moon-faced dancing girl, her eyes like goblets of wine, inebriated and happy, clapping a tune constantly and when there is some driking some inebriation and the transvestive …

bhaDwe bhi, bhaDwa bakte hoN tab dekh bahaareN holi ki

… teasing everyone with their bawdy jokes, then see the celebration of holi.

aur ek taraf dil lene ko mahbub1 bhawayyauN2 ke laRke
har aan ghaRi gat3 bharte hoN kuchh ghaT-ghaT4 ke kuchh baRh-baRh5 ke
kuchh naaz6 jataaweN7 laR-laR ke kuchh holi gaaweN aR-aR ke
kuchh lachke shooKh8 kamar patli kuchh haath chale kuchh tan9 bhaRke10

1.lovers 2.well behaved, well bred 3.tune 4.hesitating 5.daring 6.used here to mean to ‘rights/demands’ 7.assert 8.mischievous 9.body 10.alight on fire

And on one side well behaved lover boys, humming a tune all the time, sometimes hesitating, sometimes daring, fighting to assert their rights, singing songs of holi awkardly, (and on the other side), some slim waists sway, hands are extended (and grasped), some bodies set afire (with love) …

kuchh kaafir1 nain2 maTakte hoN tab dekh bahaareN holi ki

1.sinner, mischievous 2.eyes

… some mischief making eyes roll, then see the pleasure of holi.

ye dhoom machi ho holi ki aur aish1 maze2 ka jhakkaR3 ho
us khincha-khinch ghasiTi par bhaRwe4 ranDi5 ka phakkaR6 ho
maajun7, sharabeN, naach, maza, aur Tikiya8 sulfa9 kakkaR10 ho
laR-bhiR11 ke nazir bhi nikla ho keechaR12 meN laththaR-paththaR13 ho

1.pleasure 2.joy 3.storm 4.transvestive 5.dancing girl 6.quarrel 7.hashish 8.tablet (of some intoxicant/drug) 9.hemp 10. tobacco extract 11.fun-fight 12.mud 13.wallowed in, covered with

And this loud partying of holi with a storm of joy and pleasure, and in that push and pull and drag that pleasant quarrel of the transvestite and the dancing girl, some alcohol, some drugs and their nazir after a pleasant fight emerges covered in mud …

jab aise aish1 mahakte2 hoN tab dekh bahaareN holi ki

1.pleasure 2.bloom

… when such pleasure bloom, then see the joy of holi.

Key Search Words: