Folk Music
Now we move from the refined world of classical grammar to the living pulse of society — Folk Music.
If Classical music is structured philosophy, Folk music is lived experience.
It emerges not from royal courts or scholarly texts, but from → Fields, Rivers, Deserts, Temples, Festivals, Everyday life
Let us understand it regionally and conceptually.
See,Folk music reflects India’s regional diversity and social life.
- It is → Community-based | Oral in transmission | Event-oriented | Emotion-driven
- Folk songs accompany → Birth, Marriage, Harvest, Seasonal change, Religious rituals
- They often narrate → Historical events, Local legends, Ritual practices
For example:
- Muslims sing Sojkhwani during Muharram.
- Christians sing Christmas carols.
Folk music is therefore deeply embedded in lived culture.
Major Folk Traditions of India
Let us examine important regional forms.
1. Bihu (Assam)
Sung during the Bihu festival.
Features:
- Lively rhythms
- Agricultural themes
- Celebration of spring and harvest
It reflects Assam’s agrarian culture.
2. Baul (Bengal)
Baul is mystical folk music of Bengal. It emerged in Nadia as an offshoot of the Chaitanya tradition. It is associated with wandering mystics called Bauls.
Core Features:
- Oral tradition
- Deep mysticism
- Longing for union with the divine
- Spiritual humanism
Bauls believe:
- Human body is a temple
- Divinity resides within humans
Baul community includes → Vaishnava Hindus; Sufi Muslims
Most celebrated Baul saint → Lalon Shah (19th Century, Bengal)
Instruments→ Ektara (single string); Dotara (two strings); Khamak; Duggi (small drum)
Baul Sangeet represents → Mystical democracy of the soul.
3. Lavani (Maharashtra)
- Fast-paced, rhythmic folk form; often performed with Lavani dance.
- Themes → Storytelling, Romance, Social satire
It is entertaining yet culturally rich.
4. Pandavani (Chhattisgarh)
- Musical narration of the Mahabharata. Bhima is often portrayed as the hero.
- It is popular in → Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh
- It blends → Storytelling, Music, Dramatic expression
5. Bhavageethe (Karnataka)
- Literally means “emotion poetry.”
- It is a form of light music based on → Love, Nature, Philosophy
- Found mainly in Karnataka and Maharashtra.
6. Bhatiali (Bengal)
- Folk music of boatmen and fishermen.; Sung during downstream flow (bhata).
- Themes → Solitude, Nature, River life
7. Biraha (North India)
- Bhojpuri folk genre. Popular in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand
- It is dialogic:
- One singer presents a point
- Another responds
- It reflects → Separation, Longing, Emotional intensity
8. Tamang Selo (Sikkim)
- Musical genre of the Tamang community; Popular among Nepali-speaking communities.
- Themes → Love, Sorrow, Daily life
9. Borgeets (Assam)
- Composed by → Srimanta Sankardeva; Madhavdeva. 15th–16th century.
- Originated in Vaishnavite monasteries (Sattras) of Assam.
- They are devotional and lyrical.
10. Shyama Sangeet (Bengal)
- Devotional songs dedicated to Goddess Kali; Also known as → Shaktagiti, Durgastuti
- It became popular during the time of Ramakrishna Paramahansa
- Themes → Motherly love, Devotional longing
Rajasthani Folk Traditions
Often performed by nomadic communities.
Themes → Valour, Love, Desert life
Manganiar Community
- Hereditary professional musicians of Thar Desert. Their music is called “Folk Music from the Dunes.”
- Instrument → Kamaicha
- They follow Jajamani Pratha (patron-client system)
Langha Community
- Also hereditary Muslim musicians.
- Instrument → Sindhi Sarangi
- Manganiars and Langhas:
- Do not intermarry
- Preserve lineage strictly
Haveli Sangeet (Rajasthan)
- Blend of classical and folk elements.
- Originated in Govardhan, Mathura
- Associated with → Pushti Marg (founded by Vallabhacharya)
- Performed in → Havelis, Krishna temples
- Instruments → Pakhawaj (a type of drum), Tanpura, Harmonium
Rabindra Sangeet
Developed by Rabindranath Tagore
It fuses:
- Hindustani classical; Carnatic classical; Western music; Baul folk tradition
Themes:
- Love, Nature, Devotion, Patriotism, Philosophy
Tagore’s philosophy:
- Universal, formless God, Humanistic spirituality
National Significance:
- “Jana Gana Mana” → National Anthem of India
- “Amar Sonar Bangla” → National Anthem of Bangladesh
Collection of 2233 songs → Gitabitan: forms the repository of Rabindra Sangeeth
Rabindra Sangeet represents Intellectualised folk-classical synthesis.