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| Natrang celebrates world music day- pledges to preserve unique treasure of Dogras | | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, June 21: Natrang Jammu celebrated World Music Day here today by taking younger generations close to the rarest traditions of Dogri music. An exclusive function was held here today at Natrang studio Theatre to mark this International day of music. While organizing live performance-cum-demonstrations, Natrang pledged to preserve this unique wealth of Dogras by preserving, propagating and developing a sense of appreciation and pride amongst the younger generations. While elaborating details, Natrang Director Balwant Thakur dwelt each aspect of about ten out of the world music traditions of Dogras about which majority of us are not aware of. These forms include 'Karkan', 'Baaran', 'Bhakh', 'Chijaan', 'Geetru', 'Thappe', 'Soiyan', 'Chand', 'Goria', and 'Masaade'. On where on this earth a small land (Jammu province and parts of Himachal Pradesh) can offer this much diversity and uniqueness in musical traditions. Majority of these traditions possess entire price-less wealth of our traditional wisdom in terms of narratives and ballads. In the ancient times the entire history and wisdom used to be transcended from generation to generation through these artistic forms. Such traditional artistic expressions are the testimony of our creativity and intellectual pride of our ancestors. Unfortunately our generations are not aware of our such accomplishments which stand us tallest among other regions and cultures of the world.These living traditions have not only given a unique identity to Dogras but also have been a huge treasure of our folk wisdom, knowledge, inspiring narratives and heritage.
While citing few examples, Balwant Thakur elaborated the uniqueness of the tradition of 'Bhakh' style of Dogri singing. Interestingly, this out of the world style has given a distinctive place to Dogras in the world of music. The Bhakh is a chorus narrative singing which is sung by a group of singers that too, without the accompaniment of any musical instrument.
The most noteworthy feature of `Bhakh' is the use of different musical notes by the same group of singers. The intelligent technique this singing tradition has evolved is the art of maintaining the individual 'Swara' without being influenced by the 'Swara' of co-singers. To protect the individual notes being influenced by the other members of the group, each singer tightens the ears by putting fingers inside. The unique sitting posture and the tradition of sticking fingers in the ears are not found in any other style of singing on this earth. `Bhakh' singers from the villages of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi hills of Reasi District can be still found using this unique technique. Their singing echoes in the hills and create wonderful musical harmony which is not found anywhere. The content of `Bhakh' includes the bravery tales particularly of the areas where the singers opt to sing. The most noteworthy feature about the Bhakh singers is that they are the poets themselves and are the masters of creating new narratives. Among other performances, Master Girdhari Lal and Harbans Lal presented Karaks of 'Bawa Jitto', Raja Mandlik', and 'Data Ranpat' and transported the entire audience to the folklore of real Jammu. |
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