Niladri Kumar's musical tribute for Gandhi Jayanti gets a rangoli twist

Niladri Kumar is known to experiment - be it in creating tracks or a

musical instrument

. His latest track, ‘Raghupati’ that releases on Gandhi Jayanti, is not only proof of that, but is special as it will open up a new way of thinking for musicians globally.

Talking to Bombay Times about the tribute track, the

zitar maestro shares

, "This year not only marks Mahatma Gandhi’s 151st birth anniversary, but also the 90th anniversary of the Dandi

Satyagraha

. And the bhajan 'Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram' is associated with that event. That is why the release of this track is all the more special. Also, I have thought of a unique concept for this video that will actually help musicians tremendously. Every click will be important and even before I have actually released the video, music lovers are already into it.”

Interestingly, 'Raghupati' is not a new song. The sitar-zitar maestro is known to have played it in almost all his concerts since the last 20 years. This bhajan was sung by Mahatma Gandhi and his followers when they had walked the 241 mile Salt March to Dandi.

“I have never recorded it earlier. So, this is the first time that I will be officially putting it out," he explains, adding that a video will be released along with the track.

"To start anything auspicious we use a rangoli in almost all parts of India, it's a tradition common to Bengalis, the Maharashtrians, South Indians and also, people in the northern states of India, but it is called by different names. So, the video will feature a great rangoli artist Minar Patil, who will create a portrait of Gandhi ji and

the Dandi March

with rangoli and salt!”