The World of Rhythm Called Rituals - Book by Jayant Burde
When someone mentions rituals we usually think of religious rituals such as prayer, puja, marriage ceremonies, sermons and so on. However, if we introspect a little, we realize that we spend most of our life in performing rituals of one type or another. Most of our activities from morning till night are ritualistic. This book explains how rituals are closely connected with verse, music and dance. It asserts that like music and dance rituals belong to the world of rhythm. By ritual we mean any stylized behaviour that recurs. Rituals abound in all walks of life: social intercourse, military affairs, law and politics, education and so forth. In most rituals rhythm is manifest and loud. In a few rituals which have a slow tempo, some analysis is necessary to detect rhythmic patterns. The author beautifully portrays the types of rituals and the rhythms they generate from the babbling of a child to a band parade or the chanting of a mantra. He explains the initiation and completion of patterns that form the rhythm.