By Sreemanti Ghosh - Kolkata Newsline - New Delhi,India
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Baul gaan, one of the most popular forms of folk music, is an integral part of Pous Mela [festival].
What sets these baul singers apart is their distinct appearance, saffron robe, head gear along with a single stringed instrument. Though appearance remain the same, the music, style and rhythm of the traditional baul songs have undergone a sea change.
Soulful renditions loaded with spiritual content accompanied by their stellar performance have been replaced now with pace and decibel. The lyrics have also become far more modernised.
Bishwanath Das Baul explained the change that has taken place among the bauls.
“These days the songs are losing their original charm and aristocracy and one gets to hear the modernised version of the songs which are not authentic.”
Despite such disappointing performance for some, the baul gaan along with the fakir gaan or Sufi song is still the cynosure of attraction of the Pous Mela.
The bauls and the fakirs entertain the crowd with their unique style and exuberance. The final day of the Pous Mela is the most exciting as all what follows is an interesting and uninterrupted joint session of baul and fakir songs.
The joint session is usually based on a theme selected by the authorities of Visva-Bharati.
This year the theme was platonic love.
The ministrels took the centrestage and expressed their views about the theme each in their unique style.
Baul singers propagate the philosophy of love and the message of brotherhood and goodwill through their songs.
The Pous Mela provides a wonderful platform for these singers to showcase their talent. Though nowadays there is no quality control as baul has picked up pace and decibel.
Some of these singers also claim that the Pous Mela also gives them an opportunity to interact with a host of other people from different gharanas. “I always wait for the Pous Mela as it gives me an opportunity to be a part of this wonderful and culturally-enriching journey. I am not here for any kind of remuneration but for the immense respect and love that I receive from the people of Santiniketan,” pointed out Nitya Gopal Das, a veteran baul singer.
Khaibab Fakir also joined the chorus,”I am here to entertain the crowd. It has been almost 15 years that I have been associated with this mela and it is like a tradition now for all of us.”
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
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Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Platonic Love
By Sreemanti Ghosh - Kolkata Newsline - New Delhi,India
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Baul gaan, one of the most popular forms of folk music, is an integral part of Pous Mela [festival].
What sets these baul singers apart is their distinct appearance, saffron robe, head gear along with a single stringed instrument. Though appearance remain the same, the music, style and rhythm of the traditional baul songs have undergone a sea change.
Soulful renditions loaded with spiritual content accompanied by their stellar performance have been replaced now with pace and decibel. The lyrics have also become far more modernised.
Bishwanath Das Baul explained the change that has taken place among the bauls.
“These days the songs are losing their original charm and aristocracy and one gets to hear the modernised version of the songs which are not authentic.”
Despite such disappointing performance for some, the baul gaan along with the fakir gaan or Sufi song is still the cynosure of attraction of the Pous Mela.
The bauls and the fakirs entertain the crowd with their unique style and exuberance. The final day of the Pous Mela is the most exciting as all what follows is an interesting and uninterrupted joint session of baul and fakir songs.
The joint session is usually based on a theme selected by the authorities of Visva-Bharati.
This year the theme was platonic love.
The ministrels took the centrestage and expressed their views about the theme each in their unique style.
Baul singers propagate the philosophy of love and the message of brotherhood and goodwill through their songs.
The Pous Mela provides a wonderful platform for these singers to showcase their talent. Though nowadays there is no quality control as baul has picked up pace and decibel.
Some of these singers also claim that the Pous Mela also gives them an opportunity to interact with a host of other people from different gharanas. “I always wait for the Pous Mela as it gives me an opportunity to be a part of this wonderful and culturally-enriching journey. I am not here for any kind of remuneration but for the immense respect and love that I receive from the people of Santiniketan,” pointed out Nitya Gopal Das, a veteran baul singer.
Khaibab Fakir also joined the chorus,”I am here to entertain the crowd. It has been almost 15 years that I have been associated with this mela and it is like a tradition now for all of us.”
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Baul gaan, one of the most popular forms of folk music, is an integral part of Pous Mela [festival].
What sets these baul singers apart is their distinct appearance, saffron robe, head gear along with a single stringed instrument. Though appearance remain the same, the music, style and rhythm of the traditional baul songs have undergone a sea change.
Soulful renditions loaded with spiritual content accompanied by their stellar performance have been replaced now with pace and decibel. The lyrics have also become far more modernised.
Bishwanath Das Baul explained the change that has taken place among the bauls.
“These days the songs are losing their original charm and aristocracy and one gets to hear the modernised version of the songs which are not authentic.”
Despite such disappointing performance for some, the baul gaan along with the fakir gaan or Sufi song is still the cynosure of attraction of the Pous Mela.
The bauls and the fakirs entertain the crowd with their unique style and exuberance. The final day of the Pous Mela is the most exciting as all what follows is an interesting and uninterrupted joint session of baul and fakir songs.
The joint session is usually based on a theme selected by the authorities of Visva-Bharati.
This year the theme was platonic love.
The ministrels took the centrestage and expressed their views about the theme each in their unique style.
Baul singers propagate the philosophy of love and the message of brotherhood and goodwill through their songs.
The Pous Mela provides a wonderful platform for these singers to showcase their talent. Though nowadays there is no quality control as baul has picked up pace and decibel.
Some of these singers also claim that the Pous Mela also gives them an opportunity to interact with a host of other people from different gharanas. “I always wait for the Pous Mela as it gives me an opportunity to be a part of this wonderful and culturally-enriching journey. I am not here for any kind of remuneration but for the immense respect and love that I receive from the people of Santiniketan,” pointed out Nitya Gopal Das, a veteran baul singer.
Khaibab Fakir also joined the chorus,”I am here to entertain the crowd. It has been almost 15 years that I have been associated with this mela and it is like a tradition now for all of us.”
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