A sangam of sur-taal for Dilliwallahs

The capital witnessed a grand show of India’s rich folk traditions at the Harvest: Rhythms of the Earth event recently organized by the Department of Finance and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) in association with Seher as part of the Grameen Bharat Mahotsav.
From classical dance styles like Kuchipudi, Kathak and Odissi to soulful melodies – the five-day event showcased India’s diverse cultural heritage.

Each day, the performances commenced with soothing temple chants, echoing all the way from the shores of Kerala and the ghats of Varanasi to the majestic mountains of Leh and Ladakh. The line-up of performers was equally diverse, bringing together an eclectic mix of art forms. Ranging from classical dance styles such as Kuchipudi, Kathak and Odissi, which captivated the audience with their fluid movements, the show even featured Pung Cholom - a highly rhythmic classical dance form from Manipur. Other popular folk dance forms staged at the event included Bihu, Bhangra, Garba and more.

While soulful melodies from Rajasthan’s Manganiyar tradition reverberated in the auditorium on Day 1 with Manjoor Khan Manganiyar taking the lead with song like Padharo Mhare Des and Nimbooda Nimbooda, the second day was marked by Noor Mohammad Shah playing Sufi notes on his rabab. The evening reached a crescendo when Ustad Chand Afzal Qadri took centre stage to present some powerful and evocative qawwali renditions such as Chhaap Tilak Sab, celebrating the divine. On the third day, contemporary poetry accompanied by music by Chinmayi Tripathi stole the show. Day 4 saw folk singers croon to Malwa lok geet from Madhya Pradesh and Baul music from rural Bengal. Punjabi folk rock band Faridkot charmed the audience with Jeda Nasha.

On the final day, Delhi jammed with contemporary folk band Raghu Dixit Project. As band members belted out Kannada and Hindi hits, the crowd matched their steps with the beats of the drum. While sharing titbits behind each of the songs, lead singer Raghu Dixit said, “The concept of one of my songs originated from an interaction with a taxi driver in Delhi. During one of my visits to the city, a Punjabi taxi driver taught me the word ‘changa’, which led to the creation of my song Jag Changa.” The night ended on a musical high with Delhi peeps lip syncing to the lyrics of Kannada hit Lokada Kalaji (don’t worry, be happy) on repeat.

Pics- Bosco Naveen