Singing to kids is one of the easiest ways to submerge them (and you) in a different language. More importantly, it's fun! Some of my fondest memories are of my mom singing me lullabies and nursery rhymes, and it is so special to have her sing those same lullabies and rhymes to my own daughter, years later. If you are like me, you might find it hard to memorize the various Gujarati songs we have, but don't worry-- VedInk has you covered! Each week we will try to upload the lyrics of a different Gujarati nursery rhyme in both Gujarati and English, along with the translation. This week's rhyme is "Dada No Dangoro".
Nursery Rhyme:
દાદાનો ડંગોરો લીધો
એનો તો મેં ઘોડો કીધો.
ઘોડો કુદે ઝમ ઝમ!
ઘુઘરી વાગે ઘમ ઘમ!
ધરતી ધ્રૂજે ધમ ધમ!
ધમ ધમ ધરતી થાતી જાય
મારો ઘોડો કૂદતો જાય,
કૂદતાં કૂદતાં આવે કોટ,
કોટ કૂદીને મૂકે દોટ.
સહુના મનને મોહી ગયો,
એક ઝવેરી જોઈ રહ્યો,
ઝવેરીએ તો હીરો દીધો,
હીરો મેં રાજાને દીધો.
રાજાએ ઉતાર્યો તાજ,
આપ્યું મને આખું રાજ,
રાજ મેં રૈયતને દીધું.
મોજ કરીને ખાધું પીધું!
Transliteration:
Dada no dangoro lidho
Eno to me ghodo kidho.
Ghodo kude jham jham!
Ghughari vaage gham gham!
Dharti dhruje dham dham!
Dham dham dharti thaati jaay
Maaro ghodo kudto jaay.
Kudto kudto ave kot
Kot kudine muke dot
Sahunaa manne mohi gayo,
Ek jhaveri joi rahyo,
Jhaveri e to hiro didho,
Hiro me raajaane didho.
Raajaa e utaaryo taaj,
Aapyu mane aakhum raaj,
Raaj mein raiyatne didhum.
Moj karine khaadu pidhum!
Translation:
I took my grandfather’s cane
and turned it into a horse.
The horse jumps, making a “jham jham” noise!
The bell on the horse’s neck clangs, making a “gham gham” noise!
The floor shakes, making a “dham dham” noise!
As the floor shakes,
my horse keeps jumping.
Jumping along, he reaches a fence.
He jumps the fence and runs,
as everyone watches captivated.
A jeweler sees this,
and gives a diamond
to the King.
The King takes off his crown,
And gives me the entire kingdom.
He gives the kingdom back to the people.
Everyone happily ate and drank!
Truly appreciate the efforts to keep lullabies and nursery rhymes in our mother language alive. Great share 😍