Shah Hussein, a Sufi mystic from 16th century Punjab was a weaver poet. Saloo, a bride's wedding shawl, is the journey of us, our body, of life

The new bride has many women coming over to admire her 'Saloo'. Her neighbours even ask for it, but it is not something she can lend. Perhaps, the 'Saloo' has travelled from Kashmir, from Multan, from Gujarat, from Bengal, across the length and breadth of land, connecting people across geographies, blurring boundaries and distances. Saloo is the landscape of equality, of life. 

The bride seeks a confidante who she can share her feelings with. Only the Lord, the ‘Rab’ knows the depths of her heart as she embraces her 'Shauh' (beloved, her deepest core ). There are many who wear the Saloo, all branches of the same tree, but she is unique, she is imcomparable! 

‘Sehej’  a ‘nizam’, a system, deeply connected with ‘kudrat’, nature. ‘Sehej’ thrives on equality, connectedness. The bride in ‘Saloo’ is wedded to her ‘Shauh’, her deepest core, she is one with nature, the universe, the cosmos. She is one with the creation

Lyrics with Translation
Saloo sehej handa lae ni
(Wear the bridal shawl ‘Saloo’ of ease, of ‘sehej’) 

Saloo mera keemti, 
koi vekhaN aaiaan tareemati
Gaiaan sab salaah

(My ‘Saloo’ is precious,
many women came to see it,
and left full of praise)

Saloo paya tangNe
GuaandaN aai mangNe
Ditta kahi na jaah

(I left the ‘Saloo’ hanging,
my neighbour came asking for it,
 it can’t be lent)

Saloo dhur Kashmir da,
Koi aaya barfaan cheerda,
jaaNa kar ke raah

(The Saloo is from Kashmir,
Piercing through the snow,
making its way)

Saloo dhur Gujarat da
Koi main bhau pehli raat da
Kitey dhang vihaae

(The Saloo is from Gujarat,
I fear the first night,
will I wear it right)

Saloo dhur Multan da, 
Koi Rab dilaan diaan jaaNda
Sutti Shauh gal laai

(The Saloo is from Multaan,
only the Lord knows my heart’s depths,
I sleep embracing my beloved, my ‘Shauh’, my deepest core)


Saloo mera aal da 
Koi mehram naahin haal da,
Kis pae akhaan jaai

(My Saloo is dyed red,
no confidante I find,
who do I share with)


Sabbe Saloo waaliaan
Koi ik birakh diaan daaliaan
Tere tul na kaai

(Every bride has a ‘Saloo’
all branches of the same tree,
yet you are incomparable)

Saloo da rang jaavNa
Koi pher na is jag aavNa
Challe ghum ghumaai

(The Saloo will fade away,
never to return to this world,
we leave after this sojourn)

Saloo mera ooNida
Koi shaam Brindaaban suNeeda
JaaNa bikhhDe raah

(My Saloo is being woven,
while Krishna plays by the forest,
the path ahead steep and rugged)

Kahae Hussain gadaaiaa
Koi raat jungal vich aaiaa
Rab beparwaah
Daaddha beparwaah

(Says Hussain, the mendicant,
the night descends upon the wilderness,
the Almighty remains indifferent)


CREDITS
Lyrics | Shah Hussain (Traditional)
Vocals & Composition | Radhika Sood Nayak
Guitar | Neil Mukherjee
Music Producer | Neil Mukherjee
Translation | Huma Safdar

SALOO | Sufi Kalaam Shah Hussain | Radhika Sood Nayak | Music Neil Mukherjee

Radhika Sood Nayak