Mama firai

ਮਾਮਾ ਫਿਰੇ ਨੱਥ ਘੜਾਉਣ ਨੂੰ ,ਭਾਨਜੀ ਫਿਰੇ ਨੰਕ ਵੱਢਾਉਣ ਨੂੰ
Mama (uncle, mum’s brother) firai (to wander, roam, try) nath (nose ring)
ghodhouen noo (to make), bhanji (niece) firai nak (nose) vadhoun noo (to cut her nose off).

It is a tradition in Indian people for the Mama to give a nose ring to his niece at the time of her wedding. So in this muhavare the Mama is trying to give the nose ring. The niece however wishes to cut of her nose. To cut of the nose is a metaphor for being disrespectful and/or bringing disgrace.

So the muhavare captures the experience of a family member/s trying to help/support/love another. The other however doesn't appreciate the help and seems bent on hurting others and him/herself.

mama pherai

Dheeai gal

ਧੀਏ ਗੱਲ ਕਰ , ਨੂੰਹੇਂ ਕੰਨ ਕਰ
Dheeai (daughter) gal kar (you talk), noohai (daughter–in–law) kann (ear) kar. This one means literally that you speak to your daughter (get your daughter to talk of something) so your daughter-in-law will hear (and learn!). Its a way of bringing up a difficult subject in an indirect manner.

So for example: a mother may foster a conversation on the benefits of working hard with her daughter, so to encourage her idle daughter-in-law!

dheeai gal

Billee na

ਬਿੱਲੀ ਨੇ ਸ਼ੀਹ ਪੜ੍ਹਾਇਆ, ਸ਼ੀਹ ਬਿੱਲੀ ਨੂੰ ਖਾਣ ਆਇਆ ।
Billee (cat) nai seeh (lion) parrahia (taught the lion), seeh (lion) billee (cat) noo khan aaeeia (leapt at the cat to eat her up).
The cat taught the lion all her clever ways, and to repay her, after all the lessons had been learnt, the lion wished to eat her.
Meaning, some people can be so selfish that they can harm the person who has nurtured them, in ways hurting the hand that fed them. In the cat’s case she taught the lion everything, except how to climb up the tree!

billee na

Kavan tolee

ਕਾਂਵਾਂ ਟੋਲੀ , ਇੱਕੋ ਬੋਲੀ
Kavan toli eakco boli

Kavan (crows) toli (group) eako (same) boli (language).
Like minded (similar) people think alike.


kavan tolee

I have been doing some travelling and will resume the blog soon!

Kal dee bhootni

ਕੱਲ ਦੀ ਭੂਤਨੀ ਿੇਸਵਆਂ  ‘ਚ’ ਅੱਧ
Kal dee (yesterday’s) bhootni (ghost) sibia ch (in graveyeard) addh (half share); yesterday's ghost takes half the graveyard.
Yesterday's ghost, a ghost that has recently arrived in her graveyard, presumptuously takes half ownership. Someone who is young and inexperienced putting on undeserved/unearned airs and graces.

kal dee bhootni