Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 21: World Music Day was celebrated with enthusiasm and zeal.
Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, celebrated World Music Day in a unique way.
Instead of following the global trends of holding usual musical concerts, the Jammu centre opted to screen rarest local dying musical traditions for the younger audiences at ICCR headquarters here.
The rarest and unique music forms of which were featured during the screening including ‘Masade’, ‘Karkan’ and ‘Bhakh’.
‘Masade’ is one of the most ethnic and rarest narrative singing styles of Shree Mata Vaishno Devi Hills and only few families practice this great art. Presented by two to three singers with the accompaniment of yet two unique instruments like ‘Sarang’ (String) and ‘Tuppa’ (Rhythm), this singing tradition is not found anywhere in the world. Usually these narrative singers sing the mythological themes and have a rich repository of oral history of folk deities.
‘Bhakh’-This out of the world singing style has many rare and unique features. It is sung without the accompaniment of any musical instrument in a chorus style by a group of six to seven singers. The most noteworthy feature of the form is that all the singers use different musical notes in their singing. To avoid following each other they shut their ears by putting their fingers inside them.
‘Karkan’, one of the most effective narrative tradition is usually sung by a duo with the accompaniment of a local Sarangi and the rhythm. These singers are found in the foothills of Mata Vaishno Devi and also in the border villages close to the vicinity of Jhiri. They have a rich repository of our heroic as well as mythological tales.
Earlier Regional Director ICCR Jammu, Balwant Thakur, described in detail about each traditional musical form and wanted the younger audiences to take pride in this rich musical heritage of the place.
Meanwhile, Bhartiya Lok Sangeet Kala Sansthan (BLSKS) in collaboration with Ek Sath Rang Mandal and Unison Culture Troupe celebrated “World Music Day” at Durga Bhawan, Janipur.
The programme was inaugurated by Vijay Malla, renowned Producer, Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA) and VK Magotra, former Regional Director, Directorate of Field Publicity, Government of India in presence of RP Amla, Dr Tara Singh Charak, former Deputy Director, Health Department, KL Verma, renowned disciple of Santoor Maestro Shiv Kumar Sharma.
On the occasion, renowned artists KL Verma, KK Joshi, Raju Bajgal, Vijay Malla, Usha Handoo, Neelam Gandotra, Zulekha Farid, Sanjeev Sodi, Kamli Devi, Hem Raj, Sant Das, Avtar Kour, Zeeshan Malik, Rakshit Sharma, Druv Pandit, Koushal Ree, Padam Loach, Bodh Raj, Anil Singh, Nazuk, Anuroop Pathania, Rakesh Katoch, Bhanu Partap Singh, Gopal Singh, Kanta Sharma, Hitanshu Jinsi, Rahul Pandita, Bhoomika Chib, Akshita, Lovely Kaur, Ajit Singh, Nazuk Bhagat, Deepak Ree, Deevam Jandiyal, Ravi Dhar presented cultural items and mesmerized the audience.
Earlier, welcome address was presented by ML Dogra, Chairman, BLSKA.
Nirvana Academy organized a musical evening on “World Music Day” in the auditorium at Government Women College Parade.
Shantumanu, Divisional Commissioner Jammu was the chief guest on the occasion.
The events featured the unplugged instrumental performances by Naresh Kumar on Flute, Jagdeep Singh on Mouth Organ, Vikas bawa on Thumping Guitar, Anish Mattoo, Victor Sontra and Kuldeep Kumar on making listeners get to hear something never before heard making it memorable one.
The musical evening also saw performances of young budding artists like Sanchit Sharma, Bhargavie Raj, Suyash Raj Shivam and Nandini Kapoor.
Hitesh Badyal, president, Nirvana Academy, Arunima Sinha Secretary IAS Wives Association, RC Puri Secretary IRCS Jammu, Satish Gupta CMD Surya Milk, Umesh Sharma from KC Biscuits, Pradeep Dutta from Times Now Jammu, Jyoti Pachnanda from Sahara Jammu, Hemu Karki Instructor AOL, Ranjan Mahajan from Royal Concepts, Vikrant Dogra Vice President FIBDO, Vikas Dogra Vice President Prayas, Abhay Maini, Gautam Kotwal, Puran Singh Wazir and Akash Mahajan were also present.
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